UC-NRLF 


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LIBR^RV 

OF  THE 

University  of  California. 

OII^X  OK- 

Class 

AN 


ADDEESS, 

Or  ■ 


DELIVERED 


AT  THE  OPENING  OF 


ii-/tO^N\^ 


NEW    TOWN-HALL, 


Ware,  Mass,  March  31, 1847, 


CONTAINING  (SSA'^t^ 

SKETCHES  OF  THE  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THAT  TOW,  AND        j'^^ 


ITS  FIRST  SETTLERS. 


BY  WILLIAM  HYDE 


PUBLISHED    AT    THE    REQUEST    OF    THE    TOWN. 


BROOKFIELD,  MASS. 

MERRIAM  AND  COOKE,  PRINTERS. 
1847. 


'\i 


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AN 


ADDRESS 


DELIVERED 


AT  THE  OPENING  OF  THE 


NEW    TOWN-HALL, 
Ware,  Mass.  March  31, 1847. 


CONTAINING 


SKETCHES  OF  THE  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THAT  TOWN,  AND 
ITS  FIRST  SETTLERS. 


BY  WILLIAM  HYDE 


PUBLISHED    AT    THE  ,J,&QJJLS^T    OF    THE    TOWN. 

\    UNIVERSITY 


BROOKFIELD,  MASS. 
MERRIAM  AND  COOKE,  PRINTERS. 

1847, 


'>■ 


(k. 


fV 


It  was  not  expected,  that  the  request  for  an  address,  would  have  led  tff 
the  result  here  shewn;  and  had  the  labor  required  been  anticipated,  it 
would  have  been  declined.  The  pressure  of  other  cares  would  have  ex- 
cused from  the  attempt.  But  having  commenced  and  become  interested  in 
the  pursuit,  there  seemed  to  be  no  alternative  but  to  find  the  truth,  and  to 
prove  it  by  record  evidence.  Tradition  was  found  a  very  unsafe  guide,  and 
the  principal  internist  in  the  following  pages  will  be  the  copies  from  original 
papers  found  among  the  archives  of  the  commonwealth  in  the  Secretary's 
Office,  and  from  the  records  of  the  original  proprietors  of  Hardwick  and  of 
Palmer,  and  from  the  Registry  of  Deeds  at  Springfield.  These  are  inserted 
in  their  proper  connexion,  rather  than  in  an  appendix.  Hon.  Joseph  Cum- 
mings  has  furnished  much  valuable  information  with  regard  to  the  bounda- 
ries of  the  ancient  grants,  and  the  earliest  settlers.  The  true  history  of  the 
Equivalent  Lands,  after  much  research,  was  found  in  Trumbull's  History 
of  Connecticut.  For  some  facts  in  the  Ecclesiastical  History,  credit  is  due 
to  a  sermon  preached  by  Rev.  A.  B,  Reed,  Thanksgiving,  1830. 


ADDRESS 


It  is  a  matter  for  mutual  congratulation,  that  we  are  per- 
mitted to  assemble  this  day  in  this  commodious  Hall.  That 
the  town  has  undertaken  and  completed  so  convenient  a 
building  for  the  transaction  of  public  business,  with  a  room 
for  the  accommodation  of  a  Grammar  School,  and  offices 
for  the  Selectmen  and  Assessors,  evinces,  under  our  pecu- 
liar circumstances,  a  spirit  of  liberality  in  the  inhabitants,  in 
which  we  may  well  rejoice. 

In  consequence  of  the  rise  of  a  flourishing  village  upon 
the  eastern  border  of  the  town,  the  centre  of  business  and 
of  population  had  become  so  much  changed,  it  seemed  but 
an  act  of  simple  justice  that  the  Town  Hall  should  be  locat- 
ed so  as  to  accommodate  the  great  majority  of  the  voters. 
It  is  an  unpleasant  matter  to  disturb  existing  relations.  An 
ancient  centre  is  a  spot  about  which  we  are  drawn  by  the 
attachments  of  youth,  and  the  force  of  habit.  But  the  times 
change,  and  the  busy  habits  of  our  New  England  population 
force  us  to  change  with  them,  and  though  the  erection  of 
this  building  on  this  place  may  prove  inconvenient  to  a  few 
of  the  inhabitants,  it  cannot  fail  to  promote  the  convenience 
and  comfort  of  the  majority. 

It  has  been  thought  that  the  opening  of  this  Hall  was  a 
fit  occasion  for  sotne  historical  account  of  the  town.  In 
complying  with  the  request  of  the  building  committee  to  pre- 
pare something  of  the  kind,  I  did  not  anticipate  the  labor  it 
would  cost  me.  My  place  would  more  properly  have  been 
filled  by  some  native  of  the  town,  and  there  are  those  more 
capable  than  I  can  be  expected  to  be,  to  give  an  interesting 
relation  of  the  early  settlements.  And  what  I  have  done, 
has  been  in  the  fragments  of  time,  stolen  froin  severer  duties. 

In  my  inquiries,  I  have  endeavored  to  trace  the  early 
grants  of  the  territory  to  their  true  origin.  I  had  written 
the  introductory  chapter  of  the  history,  relying  on  the  com- 
monly received  traditions,  which  were  supposed  to  be  cor- 
rect by  the  older  inhabitants,  were  put  forth  as  true  in  a  his- 
torical sermon,  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Read,  preached  Thanks- 


4  HISTORICAL  ADDRESS. 

giving'day,  1830,  and  were  afterwards  incorporated  into  Bar- 
ber's Historical  Collections  of  Massachusetts.  In  searching 
for  the  confirmation  of  that  story,  I  became  convinced  it  was 
entirely  wrong,  and  am  at  a  loss  to  account  for  the  tradition. 
The  story  in  Barber's  History  is,  that  the  principal  part  of 
Ware  was  a  tract  of  10,000  acres,  granted  to  the  soldiers 
in  the  Narragansett  war, — that  they  viewed  the  lands  of  little 
value,  and  afterwards  sold  them  to  John  Reed,  Esq.  of 
Boston,  for  two  coppers  per  acre.* 

The  true  history  of  the  10,000  acre  tract  is  this.  The 
first  settlements  in  the  western  part  of  INlassachusetts,  were 
made  at  Springfield,  in  1636,  which  in  process  of  time,  em- 
braced Snffield,  Enfield,  and  Somers  within  its  bounds. 
Those  towns,  as  well  as  Woodstock,  were  settled  from  Mas- 
sachusetts, and  were  under  her  jurisdiction.  The  charier  of 
Connecticut,  granted  by  Robert,  Earl  of  Warwick,  in  the 
reign  of  King  Charles,  in  1631,  conveyed  "  all  that  part 
of  New  England  in  America,  which  lies  and  extends  itself 
from  a  river  there  called  the  Narragansett  River,  the  space 
of  forty  leagues  upon  a  straight  line  near  the  sea  shore  to- 
wards the  southwest,  west  and  by  south  or  west,  as 
the  coast  lieth  towards  Virginia,  all  the  breadth  afore- 
said, throughout  the  main  lands  there,  from  the  Wes- 
tern Ocean,  to  the  South  Sea."  When  the  line  was 
run  by  Connecticut,  it  took  in  the  towns  above  nam- 
ed. Massachusetts  declined  giving  them  up.  A  long  con- 
troversy ensued,  which  lasted  sixty-six  years.  In  1713, 
an  agreement  was  made  between  the  colonies,  that  the  line 
should  be  run  according  to  the  charter.  Massachusetts 
should  retain  jurisdiction  over  the  towns  settled  by  her,  and 
should  grant  as  an  equivalent  as  many  acres  of  unimproved 
land  to  Connecticut. 

*  I  find  a  deed  on  record  at  Springfield,  Sept.  10,  1740,  from  John 
Read  to  Thomas  Read,  of  "  one  full  half  right  or  share  in  a  tov/nship 
lately  granted  by  the  Great  and  General  Court  of  the  Province  to  the 
.officers  and  soldiers  which  was  formerly  in  ye  Fight  with  the  Indian  En- 
emy at  the  falls  on  Connecticut  River,  commonly  called  the  Falls 
Fight,  which  township  lyeth  near  or  adjoining  to  Deerfield  in  ye 
.■county  of  Hampshire,  of  which  Fight  my  honored  Father,  Thom- 
as Read,  deceased  was  then  and  there  one  of  the  soldiers."  The 
township  here  referred  to  is  Bernardslon,  and  the  fight,  the  battle  at 
Turner's  Falls,  during  Phillip's  War,  in  1G7G.  It  may  have  been  con- 
founded with  the  tract  in  Ware,  owned  by  Mr.  Read,  who  was  a  law- 
yer of  some  eminence  in  Boston,  and  owned  other  large  tracts  of  land. 
There  is  a  deed  on  record  at  Springfield,  of  23,040  acres  on  the  south- 
erly side  of  Deerfield,  made  by  agents  of  the  town  of  Boston  to  him. 
Tcmplelon  and  Westminster  were  Narragansett  towns. 


HISTORICAL  ADDRESS.  6 

On  running  the  line,  it  was  found  at  Connecticut  River  to 
run  ninety  rods  north  of  the  north-east  bounds  of  Suffield, 
and  that  Massachusetts  had  encroached  upon  Connecticut, 
107,793  acres.  Slie  made  a  grant  of  that  quantity  of  land 
to  Connecticut,  which  was  accepted  as  an  equivalent.  Tliis 
tract  included  Belchertown,  Pelham,  part  of  Enfield,  and 
the  10,000  acres  in  Ware.  The  whole  was  sold  soon  after 
in  1716,  in  sixteen  shares,  for  the  sum  of  j£683,  New  Eng- 
land currency,  which  was  a  little  more  than  a  farthing  per 
acre.     The  money  went  into  the  funds  of  Yale  College.* 

The  towns  of  Suffield,  Enfield,  Somers  and  Woodstock, 
continued  in  Massachusetts  till  1747,  when  they  were  taken 
into  Connecticut. 

Among  the  purchasers  of  the  Equivalent  lands,  were  Gov. 
Belcher  and  John  Read,  Esq.,  of  Boston.  Nathan  Gould, 
Esq.,  the  deputy-governor  of  Connecticut,  and  Peter  Burr, 
Esq.,  one  of  the  assistant  judges. 

In  proof  that  I  am  right,  I  find  a  deed  of  mortgage  on 
the  records  at  Springfield,  from  John  Read  Dec.  12,  1722, 
"  Of  all  that  my  Ten  Thousand  acres  of  land,  being  near 
Brookfield,  in  the  Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay,  be- 
ing that  two  sixteenth  parts  of  the  lands  commonly  called 
the  Equivalent  Lands,  which  in  the  late  division  of  the 
Equivalent  Lands,  fell  to  the  Hon.  Nathan  Gould  and  Pe- 
ter Burr,  Esq.  and  to  the  said  John  Read."  It  was  known 
afterwards,  as  "the  Manor  of  Peace,"  as  being  a  peace 
offering  to  Connecticut. 

The  south-east  corner  of  the  Read  tract  was  near  where 
the  barn  of  Samuel  Gould  now  stands,  thence  the  line  run 
due  north  to  Hardvvick  line,  passing  west  of  Muddy  Brook, 
and  near  Isaac  Osborn's,  thence  west  to  Swift  River,  and 
south  by  the  river  to  Palmer  or  the  "  Elbows,"  as  it  was 
then  called,  from  the  angles  made  by  the  branches  of  the 
Chicopee  River.  The  South  line  was  a  continuation  of 
the  South  line  of  Belchertown,  bearing  E.  by  N.  This 
tract  covered  all  the  western  portion  of  the  town.  The 
tract  west  of  Swift  River  was  called  Cold  Spring,  and 
went  into  the  hands  of  Gov.  Belcher,  and  when  incorporat- 
ed, called  Belchertown. 

The  eastern  part  of  the  town  was  included  in  a  pur- 

*  Trambull's  History  of  Connecticut,  vol.  1,  page  446.  The  cur- 
rency of  Connecticut  was  in  bills  of  credit,  which,  by  a  law  of  the  col- 
ony, passed  for  twenty  shillings  in  value,  equal  to  silver  at  eight  shil- 
lings per  ounce,  Troy  weight  sterling,  in  all  payments  at  the  treasury. 
Trumbull,  vol.  2,  p.  49. 


6  mSTORICAL  ADDRESS. 

chase  made  of  the  Indian  proprietors  Dec.  27,  1686. 
"  John  Magus,  Lawrence  Nassowanno,  attorneys  to  Ano- 
gomok,  Sachem  of  the  tract  of  land  called  Won)beme- 
sisecook,  James  and  Simon,  sons  and  heirs  of  Black 
James,  Sachem  of  the  Nipmug  country,  for  divers  good 
causes  and  considerations,  especially  for  and  in  consid- 
eration of  the  sum  of  twenty  pounds  current  money  of  New 
England,"  conveyed  to  "  Joshua  Lamb,  Nathaniel  Paige, 
Andrew  Gardner,  Benjamin  Gamblin,  Benjamin  Tucker, 
John  Curtis,  Richard  Draper,  and  Samuel  Ruggles  of  Rox- 
bury,  Mass.  a  certain  tract  or  parcel  of  land,  containing  by 
estimation  twelve  miles  long,  north  and  south,  and  eight 
miles  wide,  east  and  west,  situate,  lying  and  being  near  Qua- 
baug,  commonly  known  by  the  name  of  Wombemesisecook, 
being  butted  and  bounded  southerly  upon  the  land  that  Jo- 
seph Dudley  Esq.  lately  purchased  of  the  Indians,  Easterly 
the  southernmost  corner  upon  a  pond  called  Sasagookapaug, 
and  so  by  a  brook  that  runneth  into  said  pond,  and  so  up 
Northerly  unto  a  place  called  Ueques,  and  so  still  Northerly 
until  it  meets  with  a  River  called  Nenameseck,  and  Wester- 
ly by  the  River  until  it  comes  against  Quaboge  bounds,  and 
joins  unto  their  bounds,  or  however  otherwise  butted  and 
bounded." 

It  would  be  difficult  now  to  trace  these  lines,  except  the 
one  formed  by  Ware  River,  which  it  appears  was  called  by 
the  Indians  "  Nenameseck."  It  appears  from  the  proprie- 
tors' records,  where  the  deed  is  recorded,  that  they  claimed 
the  land  from  Rutland,  now  Barre,  on  the  north,  to  the 
Quabaug  River,  in  Warren,  covering  Hardwick,  parts  of 
Ware,  Palmer,  and  Brookfield,  and  that  part  of  Warren 
north  of  the  River.  South  of  the  Quabaug  belonged  to 
Brimfield.  The  same  proprietors  bought  about  the  same 
time  of  the  Indians,  the  tract  now  forming  the  towns  of  Lei- 
cester and  Spencer. 

The  first  attempts  made  to  survey  and  lay  out  the  lands 
was  in  1727,  at  which  time  only  two  of  the  original  proprie- 
tors were  living,  when  they  petitioned  the  Legislature  to 
confirm  the  territory  to  them,  which  was  refused.  In  1728, 
a  committee,  one  of  whom  was  the  Rev.  Timothy  Ruggles 
of  Rochester,  son  of  one  of  the  purchasers,  and  father  of 
the  afterwards  famous  Brigadier  Ruggles,  was  chosen  to  lay 
out  a  town  six  miles  square  within  their  claim,  but  it  was  not 
until  1732,  that  the  Legislature  confirmed  to  Joshua  Lan)b 
and  others,  the  tract  of  six  miles  square,  then  called  Lambs- 
town,  and  which  was  afterwards  incorporated  as  the  town 
of  Hardwick. 


HISTORICAL  ADDRESS.  7 

As  early  as  1727,  settlements  were  made  in  what  is  now 
Palmer,  under  grants  or  permits  from  the  proprietors  of 
Lambstown,  by  a  colony  of  emigrants  from  the  north  of 
Ireland,  among  whom  were  Isaac  Magoon  and  James  Brak- 
enridge.  The  government  did  not  admit  their  right,  and  in 
1732,  they  petitioned  as  follows: — 

"  To  His  Excellency,  Jonathan  Belcher  Esq.,  Captain  General  and 
Governor  in  chief  in  and  over  his  Majesties  Province  of  the  Massachu- 
setts Bay  in  New  England,  The  Honorable  His  Majesties  Council, 
and  House  of  Representatives  in  General  Court  assembled,  May  31, 
1732. 

The  petition  of  the  subscribers  dwelling  and  residing  on  a  tract  and 
parcel  of  land  lying  and  situate  between  Springfield  and  Brookfield, 
Briinfield  and  the  land  called  the  Equivalent  land  and  Cold  Spring, 
Humbly  Sheweth — 

That  they  ai  3  sensible  the  said  land  belongs  to  the  said  Province, 
yet  the  reason  why  your  petitioners  entered  on  the  said  land  was  as 
follows.  Some  from  the  encouragement  of  Joshua  Lamb,  Esq.  and 
Company,  that  the  said  land  belonged  to  them,  and  that  they  would 
give  to  such  of  your  petitioners  as  entered  thereon  under  them  a  good 
right  and  title  to  such  a  part  thereof  as  they  respectively  contracted  for. 
Yet  notwithstanding  your  petitioners  are  now  sensible  that  the  said  Lamb 
&  Co.  have  no  right  to  the  said  land,  and  that  the  same  will  prove  great- 
ly to  your  petitioners  damage — that  as  to  such  as  hold  under  them  with- 
out relieved  by  your  Excellency  and  Honors — and  that  others  of  your 
petitioners  entered  on  from  necessity,  not  having  v/herewith  of  their 
own  to  provide.  Yet  nevertheless  your  petitioners  are  duly  sensible 
that  they  deserve  your  discountenance.  But  confiding  in  the  reasons 
offered,  they  humbly  request  your  compassionate  consideration — that 
they  may  be  put  under  such  regulation  as  may  have  a  tendency  to  pro- 
mote the  flourishing  of  religion,  &c. 

Therefore  your  petitioners  most  humbly  pray,  that  your  Excellency 
and  Honors  would  take  the  premises  into  your  wise  consideration,  and 
either  grant  them  the  said  tract  of  land  or  put  them  under  such  restric- 
tions and  regulations  as  in  your  consummate  wisdom  shall  be  thought 
most  reasonable,  and  your  petitioners  as  in  duty  bound  will  ever  pray. 


James  Dorchester, 
Joseph  Wright. 
Bernard  McNitt. 
Daniel  Fuller. 
Andrew  Mackie, 
James  Shearer. 
James  Stephens. 
Daniel  Killam. 
David  Spear. 
Thomas  Little. 
Samuel  Doolittle. 
James  Brakenridge. 
Robert  Harper. 
William  Shaw. 
John  Harvey. 


John  Bemon. 
Duncan  Quintin. 
Isaac  Maggon. 
Isaac  Magoon,  Jr. 
Micah  Tousley. 
Elijah  Vose. 
Elisha  Hall, 
Alexander  Tackel, 
Robert  Farrell. 
Joseph  Fleming. 
Aaron  Nelson. 
John  Henderson. 
David  Nevins. 
Joseph  Brooks. 


Humphrey  Gardner, 
Nicholas  Blancher. 
William  Crawford, 
Samuel  Nevins. 
Joseph  Gerish. 
Samuel  Shaw. 
Andrew  Rutherford. 
Daniel  Parsons. 
James  M'Clenathan. 
James  Lamberton. 
Thomas  M'Clenathah 
Robert  Thompson:. 
Joseph  Wright,  Jr. 
Samuel  Brooks. 


Robert  Nevins.    12  other  names  not  to  be  seaH. 


8  HISTORICAL  ADDRESS. 

In  the  House  of  Representatives,  Nov.  24,  1732.  In  answer  to  thus 
petition,  vorted,  that  Col.  Alden  and  Jas.  Bradford,  with  such  others  as 
the  Honorable  Board  shall  appoint,  be  a  committee  to  repair  to  the  land 
petitioned  for,  carefully  to  view  the  situation  and  circumstances  thereof 
as  well  those  of  the  petitioners,  and  also  the  quantity  and  quality  of  the 
said  land  and  to  report  their  opinion  at  the  next  May  session,  what  may 
be  proper  for  the  court  to  do  thereon,  and  that  the  petition  be  refened 
accordingly.     Sent  up  for  concurrence.     J.  Quincy,  Speaker. 

In  Council,  Nov.  27,  1732.  Read  and  concurred.  Ebenezer  Buzzell 
Esq.  joined  io  the  affair.     J.  Willard,  Sec'y. 

Consented  to.     J,  Belcher. 

The  Committee  appointed  by  the  General  Court  at  their  session  in 
Nov,  last  to  repair  to  the  land  petitioned  for  by  James  Dorchester  and 
sundry  others — Having  in  pursuance  of  the  vote  of  said  Court  repaired 
to  said  lands,  and  carefully  viewed  the  inhabitants  thereof  as  well  as 
these  of  the  petitioners,  and  also  the  quantity  and  quality  of  said  lands, 
do  report  our  opinion  thereon,  as  follows,  viz. 

We  find  the  land  petitioned  for  to  be  a  tract  of  land  commonly  called 
the  Elbow  tract,  lying  near  Springfield  and  the  Equivalent  Lands,  con- 
taining 17,014  acres,  (viz.  contents  of  five  miles  square,  and  1014  acres, 
over)  exclusive  of  particular  grants  taken  up  and  laid  out  within  the 
same,  bounded  and  included  within  the  lines  and  boundaries  of  the  adja- 
cent land  as  hereafter  laid  down,  viz.  Easterly  in  part  upon  the  west  line 
of  Brookfield  township,  from  the  N.  West  comer  the  said  line  runs  So.  2 
deg.  West  to  the  river,  called  Quabog  alias  Chicopee  liver,  thence  bound- 
ing on  Brimfield  township,  as  the  said  river  runs,  easterly  in  pait  and 
southerly,  and  in  part  westerly  so  far  down  said  river,  as  to  where  the 
south  end  line  of  a  tract  of  Equivalent  land  called  Cold  Spring  town- 
ship crosses  or  skirts  the  said  River,  thence  bounding  Northerly  on  the 
said  line  as  it  keeps  East  by  the  Needle  of  the  surveying  instrument, 
to  the  South  East  comer  of  said  tract  or  township,  which  is  the  mouth 
of  Swift  River,  thence  bounding  Westerly  in  part  on  the  said  tract  or 
township  of  Equivalent  land  as  the  river  runs  to  where  the  south  line 
of  another  tract  of  Equivalent  land,  containing  10,000  acres  belonging- 
to  John  Read  Esq.  strikes  up  or  runs  from  said  river — thence  bounding 
Northerly  upon  said  line  as  it  runs  E.  and  by  N.  to  the  So.  E.  corner 
of  said  tract,  being  a  heap  of  stones  by  the  root  of  a  great  red  oak  tree,, 
fallen  close  by  one  on  the  west  side  of  a  run  of  water,  about  18  rods 
southerly  of  the  river,  called  the  Ware  River — thence  bounding  Wes- 
terly on  the  east  line  of  said  tract,  as  it  runs  North  by  the  Needle,, 
until  an  east  line  there  will  strike  the  N.  E.  corner  tree  of  Brookfield^ 
as  by  a  plan  presented  herewith  appears. 

We  find  the  greatest  part  of  said  land  to  be  a  Pine  land.  High 
hills  and  low  vallies,  the  hills  very  poor  and  mean,  the  vallies  pretty- 
good.  We  also  find  that  the  said  tract  of  land  Ues  in  a  broken  form, 
and  is  much  discommoded  by  farms  claimed  by  particular  giants  from 
this  court,  which  have  taken  up  the  best  of  the  land.  We  also  find 
that  the  circumstances  of  the  petitioners  and  settlers,  are  difficult  and 
much  intricate  and  perplexed,  some  of  them  having  entered  and  settled 
without  regulation,  and  interfered  and  encroached  upon  other  men's  titles 
and  improvements,  and  in  many  instances,  two  several  settlers  on  th^ 
same  spot,  under  diiferent  pleas  and  pretences  of  right — some  having 


HISTORICAL  ADDRESS.  9 

lately  laid  out,  some  partly  laid  out,  and  others  only  pitched,  interfering 
one  with  another  as  aforesaid.  We  would  further  inform  this  honora- 
ble court  that  we  have  taken  great  pains  and  care  to  inspect  and  in- 
quire into  every  particular  instance  relating  to  the  said  tract  of  land, 
and  find  it  needful  to  prevent  further  charge  and  difficulty — to  report 
particularly,  viz. — That  we  find  there  are  entered  and  settled  and  about 
settling  on  the  said  tract  of  land  the  number  of  eighty  persons  the  most 
whereof  are  families  and  built  houses,  and  made  considerable  improve- 
ments, and  are  now  and  have  been  constantly  for  more  than  three 
years  supplied  with  a  minister  to  preach  the  word  of  God  unto 
them,  who  has  been  supported  by  a  free  contribution.  We  also  find 
that  about  48  of  the  above  number  were  introduced  and  led  on  or  en- 
couraged to  settle  and  make  improvements  by  Joshua  Lamb,  Esq.  & 
Co.  and  their  committee,  who  claimed  the  said  tract  of  land  by  virtue 
of  an  Indian  purchase,  and  the  rest  of  the  number  had  actual  contracts 
with  them  for  certain  parcels  thereof  and  received  deeds  of  convey- 
ance and  orders  from  them  for  laying  out  of  their  lots,  and  have 
had  the  most  of  them  laid  out  accordingly.  We  are  therefore  humbly 
of  the  opinion  that  the  several  persons  and  families  hereafter  named,  that 
were  so  admitted  and  settled  under  and  by  the  said  claimers,  have  their 
several  and  respective  lots  hereafter  confirmed  to  them,  their  heirs  and 
assigns  in  such  proportions  and  under  such  restrictions  and  limitations 
and  considerations  as  follows  and  are  hereafter  mentioned,  viz." 

Then  follow  specific  grants  to  eighty-five  different  per- 
sons, among  whom  were  Isaac  Mngoon,  and  Isaac  Magoon 
Jr.,  the  former  was  bounded  north  by  the  Read  farm,  near 
the  south  east  corner. 

Other  portions  of  the  territory  were  to  be  apportioned 
among  part  of  the  grantees  according  to  certain  rules.  The 
first  grants  being  generally  100  acres  each. 

"And  that  all  and  each  of  the  aforenamed  Person  or  Grantee 
Both  first  and  last  mentioned,  (excepting  the  Rev'd  Mr.  John  Harvey*) 
do  pay  into  the  Public  Treasury  of  this  Province  the  sum  of  Five  Hun- 
dred Pounds  within  two  years  as  also  forthwith  to  Pay  the  further  sum 
of  Sixty  Seven  Pounds,  Eleven  Shillings  and  Nine  pence  the  charge 
and  Expense  of  this  Committe  on  the  affair.  Each  man  or  Grantee  his 
Equal  part  or  Proportion  of  said  sums  according  to  the  Quantity  of  his 
Grant  of  first  allotment,  and  if  any  of  the  aforenamed  persons  or  Gran- 
tees Either  first  or  last  mentioned  Do  not  fulfill  the  aforesaid  conditions 
within  the  Term  of  time  herein  Limited,  Their  lots  be  forfeited  and 
other  way  Disposed  of  as  this  Court  shall  order.  And  that  all  Public 
Charges  arising  for  the  future  (Untill  they  be  settled  and  Invested  with 
the  powers  and  privileges  of  a  Township),  shall  be  raised  upon  their 
several  lots  according  to  the  Quantity  of  acres  and  that  all  such  of  the 
aforesaid  persons  or  Grantees  as  are  Intitled  to  Draw  after  Rights  and 

*  Rev.  John  Harvey  was  settled  as  the  first  minister  of  Palmer,  in 
1734.    He  was  ordained  by  the  Londonderry  Presbytery.     He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  the  Rev.  Robert  Burns,  in  1753.     The  (-hurch  was  Scotch 
Presbyterian  till  the  settlement  of  Rev.  Simeon  Colton,  in  1811. 
o 


10  HISTORICAL  ADDRESS. 

Divisions  shall  pay  a  Double  Proportion  to  all  such  Charges  according- 
to  the  Quantity  of  the  Grants  or  first  lots.  And  that  they  the  afore- 
named Settlers  and  Grantees  Do  Erect  and  Build  a  Suitable  House  for 
Public  Worship,  and  settle  a  minister  within  two  Years  and  that  they 
be  allowed  to  Bring  in  a  Bill  for  Erecting  and  setting  themselves  off  a 
Township  accordingly." 
This  report  was  signed  by  Ebenezer  Buzzell,  and  adopted. 

From  these  documents,  it  appears  that  the  southern  part 
of  the  town,  and  all  east  of  the  Read  manor,  as  far  north  as 
Brookfield  line  extends,  was  included  in  what  was  then 
called  the  "Elbows." 

Allusion  is  made  in  the  report  of  the  committee  to  for- 
mer grants.  The  most  ancient  document  I  have  found  per- 
taining to  the  history  of  Ware  is  the  following  petition,  dat- 
ed in  1673,  thirteen  years  before  the  Indian  deed  to  the  pro- 
prietors of  Hardwick,  which  is  copied  from  the  original,  in 
the  archives  of  the  commonwealth,  and  with  the  grant  and 
the  deed  following  it,  the  title  of  the  territory  of  this  village, 
can  be  easily  traced  to  the  present  proprietors. 

"  To  the  Honoured  Governour,  Deputie  Governour,  Magistrates  and 
Deputies  now  assembled  and  holding  Generall  Court  in  Boston. 

The  humble  petition  of  Richard  HoUinworth  of  Salem,  most  hum- 
bly sheweth. 

That  your  most  humble  petitioner's  ffather  came  into  this  country 
about  forty  yeares  since,  and  brought  a  great  ffamily  with  him,  and  a 
good  estate.  And  being  the  first  builder  of  vessells,  being  a  ship-car- 
penter, was  a  great  benefit  to  this  counirey,  and  as  great  or  greater 
than  any  one  in  the  infancie  of  the  countrie  of  a  private  man  as  it  is 
fully  knowne,  yett  gained  not  himselfe  an  estate,  but  spent  his  own 
that  he  brought,  and  notwithstanding  all  his  service  and  the  largeness 
of  his  family,  being  twelve  in  number,  he  never  had  more  granted  him 
by  the  countrie  but  fortie  one  acres  of  upland,  and  not  one  acre 
of  meadow,  and  the  land  lying  soe  remote  from  the  towne  of  Salem, 
it  proved  little  worth  to  him  or  his,  and  none  of  his  children  have  ever 
had  anything  but  have  lived  by  their  labour  with  God's  blessing,  and 
your  petitioner  hath  used  maretan  employment,  and  through  many 
dangers  and  with  much  difficultie  gotten  a  livelyhood  for  himselfe  and 
his  family,  and  being  brought  very  low  by  his  loss  by  the  Dutch  take- 
ing  all  from  him,  is  constramed  to  apply  himself  unto  yourselves, 
whom  God  hath  sett  as  iTathers  of  this  Commonwealth. 

And  doth  most  humbly  beseech  you  seriously  to  consider  the  prem- 
ises, and  if  it  may  stand  with  your  good  likeing  and  charitie  to  grant 
unto  him  a  competent  parcell  of  land  that  he  may  sitt  downe  upon  with 
his  family,  viz.  his  wife  and  six  children,  for  he  would  leave  the 
seas  had  he  any  competencie  of  land  whereby  with  his  own  in  dus- 
try  and  God's  blessing  he  might  mainetaine  his  family.  And  he  shall 
take  it  as  a  great  favour.  And  as  in  duty  bound,  shall  ever  pray,  &c." 

"  In  answer  to  this  petition,  the  Deputys  judge  meet  to  grauntthe  pe- 


HISTORICAL  ADDRESS.  1 1 

titioner  five  hundred  acres  of  land  where  he  can  find  it  free  from  any 
former  graunt,  ye  Honorable  Magistrates  consenting  hereto. 
8:  11:  1673.  WILLIAM  TORREY,  Chairman. 

Consented  to  by  the  Magistrates. 

EDWARD  RAWSON,  Sec'ry. 

Hollingsworlh  never  located  the  land  granted  by  the  Gen- 
eral Court  to  him.  His  heirs  afterwards  sold  the  grant  to 
Samuel  Prince  of  Rochester.  June  14,  1715,  it  appears 
by  the  records  of  the  council,  "  a  plot  of  500  acres  was 
presented  by  Samuel  Prince,  lying  on  Ware  River,  survey- 
ed by  William  Ward,  being  a  grant  of  that  quantity  to 
Richard  Hollingsworth  in  1673."  "It  was  ordered  that 
the  plat  be  confirmed  as  HoUingsworlh's  grant,  if  that  grant 
has  not  been  laid  out  before." 

The  plat  and  the  order  indorsed  on  the  back  of  it  cannot 
be  found.  Very  few  papers  of  that  kind  between  1710  and 
1730,  are  among  the  archives  of  the  commonvvealtli,  and  it 
is  supposed  they  were  destroyed  when  the  State  House  was 
burned  in  1741. 

Tradition  has  always  connected  with  this  grant  an  obliga- 
tion to  maintain  mills  at  the  falls,  but  the  records  disclose 
no  such  condition.  The  following  deed  copied  from  the 
Springfield  Records  will  throw  light  on  the  earliest  con- 
veyances. 

"To  all  People  unto  whom  this  Present  Deed  of  sale  shall  come, 
Jonas  Clarke  of  Boston,  within  the  County  of  Suffolk  in  New  Eng- 
land, INIazier,  Sendeth  Greeting. 

Know  Ye,  that  I  the  said  Jonas  Clarke,  for  and  in  consideration  of 
the  sum  of  Four  hundred  pounds  to  me  in  hand  at  and  before  the  en- 
seaUng  and  delivery  hereof  well  and  truly  Paid  by  Jabez  Olmsted  of 
Brookfield  in  the  County  of  Hampshire*  in  New  England  aforesaid. 
Husbandman,  the  Rec"t  whereof  I  do  hereby  acknowledge,  have  given, 
granted,  bargained,  sold,  conveyed,  and  confirmed,  and  by  these  Pres- 
ents do  give,  grant,  bargain,  sell,  convey,  and  confirm  unto  the  said 
Jabez  Olmsted,  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  all  that  my  certain  tract 
or  parcel  of  land  situate,  lying  and  being  within  the  Province  of  the 
Massachusetts  bay,  in  the  Road  from  Brookfield  to  Hadley,  Containing 
by  estimation  five  hundred  acres  more  or  less,  as  the  same  is  delineated 
and  decyphered  in  a  Plan  thereof  on  file  among  the  Records  of  the 
General  Court  or  Assembly  of  this  Province,  which  said  land,  upon 
Wednesday,  twenty-fifth  day  of  May,  was  allowed  and  confirmed  as 
the  Five  hundred  acres  of  land  granted  unto  Richard  Hollingsworth, 
Anno.  1673,  by  the  said  General  Court,  and  is  the  same  land  which 
the  said  Hollingsworth's  heirs  sold  lately  unto  Samuel  Prince,  late  of 
Rochester,  Yeoman,  who  sold  the  same  to  Thomas  Clarke  of  Boston 
aforesaid.  Merchant,  of  whom  I  purchased  the  same  land,  together  with 
all  and  singular  the  trees,  woods,  underwoods,  profits,  privileges,  and 

*  Worcester  county  was  not  established  till  1731. 


12  HISTORICAL  ADDRESS. 

appurtenances,  to  the  said  granted  land  belonging  or  in  anywise  apper- 
taining, and  the  Reversion  and  remainders  thereof."  [Here  follow  the 
tisual  covenants  of  icarrantij.]  "  To  Have  and  to  Hold  the  said  given 
and  granted  land  and  premises  with  the  appurtenances,  unto  the  said  Ja- 
bez  Olmsted  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  to  his  and  their  only  proper 
use,  benefit  and  behoof  from  henceforth  and  forever." 

"  In  witness  whereof  I,  the  said  Jonas  Clarke  have  hereunto  set  ray 
hand  and  seal  the  second  day  of  April,  Anno  Domini,  one  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  twenty-nine,  and  in  the  second  year  of  the  Reign  of 
our  Sovereign  Lord  George  the  Second,  King  over  Great  Britain,  &c. 

Signed,  sealed,  and  delivered  in  presence  of  > 

Moses  Rice.     Benjamin  Rolfe.  )  Jonas  Clarke  and  seal. 

Received  the  day  and  year  above  written,  off  the  within  named  Ja- 
bez  Olmsted,  the  sum  of  four  hundred  pounds,  being  the  consideration 
money  within  expressed. 

JONAS  CLARKE. 

Suffolk,  ss.  Boston,  April  2,  1729.  The  above  named  Jonas 
Clarke  personally  appearing,  acknowledged  the  above  written  instru- 
ment to  be  his  act  and  Deed 

Before  me,  SAMUEL  SEWALL,  Jun.,  Just.  Peace. 

Received,  April  24,  1732,  and  recorded  from  Original." 

The  south-east  corner  of  this  tract  was  near  the  north  line 
of  Hon.  Joseph  Cummings'  farm,  on  the  side  hill,  above 
Benjamin  Eaton's.  Thence  the  line  ran  north,  taking  in  the 
lower  falls,  and  extending  to  the  farm  now  owned  by  Joseph 
Hartwell.  Thence  it  ran  west  to  the  Read  manor,  and 
south,  on  its  east  line,  to  ihe  south  west  corner  on  the  plain 
west  of  muddy  brook,  between  land  of  John  Gould,  and  the 
farm  formerly  owned  by  Dea.  Enos  Davis,  covering  nearly 
the  whole  territory  of  what  is  now  this  village.* 

Upon  this  tract,  I  suppose  the  first  settlements  in  the 
town  were  made.  Capt.  Jabez  Olmstead  came  here  from 
Brookfield,  probably  in  1729,  and  built  mills  upon  the  falls. 
He  erected  a  house  east  of  the  Bank.  The  well  now  used 
for  the  tenements  next  the  Bank  was  dug  for  his  house, 
which  afterwards  was  a  tavern.  It  was  a  large  two  story 
house,  called  "the  Great  House,"  and  was  standing  when  the 
first  movements  were  made  to  erect  factories  here  in  1813. 
Mr.  Demond  occupied  it  for  a  year  or  more,  and  it  stood 
till  1821. 

Jacob  Cummings  came  here  very  soon  after,  from  Kil- 
lingly,  Ct.  and  was  one  of  the  most  influential  men  in  the  esta- 
blishment of  a  Church  and  Society.  He  located  upon  the 
farm  now  owned  by  Joel  Rice,  Esq.,  and  owned  that,  and 

*  It  appears  by  the  Palmer  records,  that  100  acres  adjoining  Jabez 
Olrastead's  farm,  was  granted  to  his  eldest  son. 


HISTORICAL  ADDRESS.  13 

the  one  now  owned  by  his  great  grandson,  the  Hon.  Joseph 
Cummings.  This  tract  was  first  laid  out  to  Stewart  South- 
gate,  clerk  of  the  proprietors  of  the  Elbows. 

What  is  now  the  south  east  corner  of  the  town  was  first 
settled  by  Isaac  Magoon.  He  and  his  son,  Isaac  Jr.,  own- 
ed the  farms  now  owned  by  Samuel  Gould,  Haskell  Cum- 
mings and  Josephus  Lamberton,  about  700  acres.  These 
lands  then  belonged  to  the  proprietors  of  the  Elbows,  now 
Palmer.  Their  grant  covered  all  the  lands  not  included  in 
the  ten  thousand  acres  and  the  five  hundred  acres,  except 
1443  acres  in  the  north-east  corner  of  the  town,  and  some 
small  portions  since  added  to  this  town  from  Brookfield. 

The  first  settlers  on  this  tract  were  what  would  be  called 
in  these  days,  squatters.  Judah  Marsh  came  from  Hatfield 
or  Hadley  about  1730,  and  settled  near  Marsh's  mills.  He 
married  a  daughter  of  Capt.  Jabez  Olmstead,  and  his  de- 
scendants now  occupy  some  portions  of  the  land  granted  to 
him  and  his  brothers.  The  petition  and  grant  may  interest 
the  descendants.  They  are  copied  from  the  originals  in  the 
Secretary's  office  at  Boston. 

"  To  his  Excellency  Jonathan  Belcher  Esq.  Captain  General  and 
Commander  in  chief  of  His  Majesty's  Province  of  the  Massachusetts 
Bay  in  New  England,  &c.,  The  Honorable  His  Majesty's  Council  and 
House  of  Representatives  in  General  Court  assembled  at  Boston,  Oct. 
3,  1733. 

The  Petition  of  us,  the  subscribers,  Humbly  she weth.  That  your  Pe- 
titioners are  now  actually  dwellinof  on  a  tract  of  the  unappropriated  lands 
of  this  Province,  in  the  county  of  Hampshire,  bounded  south  partly  by 
that  tract  of  land  called  the  Elbows  and  partly  by  Brookfield  township, 
East  by  Ware  River,  North  by  land  lately  granted  to  Col.  Lamb  and 
Co.,^nd  west  by  that  part  of  the  Equivalent  lands  belonging  to  John 
Read,  of  Boston,  Esq.  containing  fourteen  hundred  and  forty-three 
acres,  as  per  a  plat  of  said  land  herewith  presented,  more  particularly 
appears,  and  on  said  tract  of  lands  we  have  lived  some  of  us  three 
years  where  we  have  spent  the  most  of  that  little  substance  we  have  ; 
and  we  assure  your  Honours,  it  was  not  the  extraordinary  goodness 
or  quality  of  the  lands,  that  induced  us  to  go  upon  it,  for  a  considerable 
part  of  said  tract  is  Ledges  of  Rocks,  and  very  Rockey,  so  as  to  render 
it  unprofitable  and  almost  useless,  (as  those  that  are  acquainted  with  it 
can  Testifie,)  but  that  which  induced  us  to  settle  on  it,  was  our  necessi- 
ty, our  principle  dependance  for  the  support  of  ourselves  is  husbandly, 
and  we  had  not  a  foot  of  land  to  imploy  ourselves  and  families  upon, 
were  exposed  to  idleness  and  pinching  want,  and  being  then  unsensi- 
ble how  highly  the  court  resented  such  a  way  of  settling,  and  appre- 
hending that  the  principle  thing  insisted  on  was  that  there  should  be  no 
trading  or  stockjobbing,  but  an  actual  settlement  and  improvement  in 
husbandry,  by  the  grantees  themselves,  with  which  we  were  ready  to 
comply. 

Wherefore,  being  thus  unhappily  intangled  on  said  Land,  with  great 
submission,  we  most  humbly  move,  that  this  great  and  Honorable  As- 


14  HISTORICAL  ADDRESS. 

sembly  would  condescend  to  exercise  their  charity  and  Pitty  towards 
usj  in  granting  us,  (out  of  said  land,  including  the  spots  we  have  al- 
ready begun  on,)  so  much  Land  as  may  be  a  competency  for  us  to  im- 
prove for  a  livelyhood  for  ourselves  and  children,  we  have  no  tho't  of 
any  other,  but  with  submission  to  spend  the  remainder  of  our  Lives  and 
substances  on  the  spot,  are  content  and  ready  to  submit  to  any  injunc- 
tions or  Limitations  within  our  reach,  this  Great  and  Honorable  Court 
shall  think  meet  to  lay  upon  us,  who  as  in  Duty  bound,  shall  ever  pray, 
his 
John     X     Clemens. 

mark. 
Thomas  Marsh. 
William  Clemmens. 

his 
Jonathan     X     Rood. 

mark. 
JtTDAH  Marsh. 

In  the  House  of  Representatives,  Oct.  29,  1733.  Read  and  ordered 
that  the  prayer  of  the  Petition  as  particularly  set  forth  in  the  vote  on 
the  plat  of  the  lands  hereto  annexed. 

Sent  up  for  concurrence, 

J.  QUINCY,  Speaker. 

In  Council,  Oct.  29,  1733.  Non-concurred,  and  ordered  that  a  com- 
mittee be  appointed  to  view  the  lands  and  report. 

The  House  non-concurred  in  this  vote,  and  the  petition  was  not  call- 
ed up  again  until  1737. 

Here  follow  the  plat  of  the  survey  with  the  oaths  admin- 
istered by  Timothy  Dwight  Esq.  of  Belchertown,  to  Nathan- 
iel Dwight  tlie  Surveyor,  and  to  William  Clements  and  Jon- 
athan Rood  the  chain-men. 

^'  In  the  House  of  Representatives,  Jan.  3,  1737. 

Read,  and  ordered  that  the  petition  be  revived,  and  that  the  pkt  be 
accepted,  and  that  the  lands  therein  delineated  and  described  be  and  nere- 
by  are  confirmed  to  the  said  Thomas  Marsh,  William  Clements,  John 
Clements,  Jonathan  Rood,  Judah  Marsh,  and  Samuel  Marsh,  their 
heirs  and  assigns  respectively,  provided  each  of  the  grantees  do  within 
the  space  of  five  years  from  this  date,  have  six  acres  of  the  granted 
premises  brought  to  English  grass,  or  broken  up  by  plowing,  and  each 
of  them  have  a  good  dwelling-house  thereon,  of  eighteen  feet  square, 
and  seven  feet  stud  at  the  least,  and  each  a  family  dwelling  therein,  that 
they  actually  bring  to  the  settlement  of  said  Lands  by  themselves,  or 
their  children  as  above  laid,  provided  also,  the  plat  exceeds  not  the 
quantity  of  fourteen  hundred  and  forty-three  acres,  and  does  not  inter- 
fere with  any  former  grant,  and  also  that  the  grantees  do  within  twelve 
months,  pay  to  the  Province  Treasury,  five  pounds  each,  for  the  use 
of  this   province.  Sent  up  for  concurrence, 

J.  QLIINCY,  Speaker. 

In  Council,  Jan.  4,  1737.     Read  and  concurred. 

SIMON  FROST,  Deputy  Sec'y. 
Consented  to.     J.  BELCHER. 


HISTORICAL  ADDRESS.  15 

I  have  been  more  particular  in  tracing  the  origin  of  the 
grants,  because  I  found  the  traditions  so  erroneous.  It  ap- 
pears  to  have  been  the  custom  of  the  Indians  to  burn  over 
this  territory,  to  aid  them  in  securing  game.  The  practice 
had  destroyed  the  forests  to  a  great  extent,  and  doubtless  in- 
jured the  soil.  Brookfield  was  settled  as  early  as  1673,  and 
the  inhabitants  used  these  lands  for  pasturing,  and  continued 
the  practice  of  burning  to  improve  the  feed.  Brookfield 
pastures  was  their  common  name.  So  bare  of  timber  was 
the  country,  that  the  early  settlers  of  Warren,  on  coming  to 
the  top  of  Coy's  hill,  could  discern  a  stray  beast  any  where 
in  this  whole  valley. 

The  town  seems  to  have  taken  its  name  from  the  river 
passing  through  it,  which  bears  the  same  nanje,  from  its 
sources  to  its  junction  with  the  Chicopee  of  which  it  is  the 
middle  and  longest  branch.  It  abounded  with  fish,  the  falls 
being  a  famous  place  for  taking  salmon.  Weirs  or  Wears 
were  constructed  to  aid  in  taking  them,  and  hence  the  name 
of  Wear  River,  wliich  was  afterwards  spelled  Ware.  It  is 
not  so  sweet  as  the  Indian  name  "  Nenameseck,"  the  mean- 
ing of  which  I  am  not  able  to  give. 

The  town  does  not  appear  to  have  been  settled  very  rapid- 
ly. The  soil  was  poor,  and  we  cannot  appreciate  the  hard- 
ships the  early  settlers  encountered.  In  1742,  when  by  the 
aid  of  Mr.  Read,  they  petitioned  to  be  incorporated  as  a 
town,  it  seems  there  were  but  thirty-three  families  here. 
The  petition,  report  of  the  committee,  and  act  of  incorpor- 
ation, are  carefully  copied  into  the  book  of  records,  and 
from  that  time  to  the  present,  the  records  have  been  regular- 
ly kept,  and  carefully  preserved.  Few  towns  can  show  a 
more  perfect  record  of  their  affairs  from  their  first  incorpo- 
ration than  this  town. 

In  the  history  I  shall  give,  from  this  period,  I  shall  con- 
fine myself  as  closely  to  record  evidence,  as  I  have  in 
searching  for  the  grants. 

The  town  as  incorporated,  contains  a  tract  lying  mostly 
between  Ware  river  and  Swift  river,  being  about  six  and  a 
half  miles  long  east  and  west,  by  four  and  a  half  north  and 
south.  It  is  the  south-east  corner  town  of  Hampshire 
County. 

The  Read  Manor  was  the  first  located  in  1713. 

The  Hollingsworth  grant,  taking  in  the  tract  now  occupied 
by  the  village  and  the  water  power,  1715.  The  Elbow 
tract  was  laid  out  in  1732.  And  the  Marsh  and  Clements 
grant  in  1733. 


16  HISTORICAL  ADDRESS. 

"To  his  Excellency  William  Shirley,  Esq.,  Captain  General  and 
Governour  in  Chief,  the  honorable  the  Council  and  Representatives  in 
General  Court  assembled  26th  May  1742.  The  petition  of  Thomas 
Marsh  and  others  to  the  number  of  thirty-three  house  holders,  about 
and  between  Wear  River  and  Swift  River,  near  Brookfield,  humbly 
Sheweth.  That  your  Petitioners  are  settled  on  a  tract  of  land  bound- 
ed, beginning  at  the  Southwest  Corner  of  the  ten  thousand  acres  of 
Equivalent  land  at  Swift  River,  thence  running  due  east  to  Biookfield 
Bounds,  thence  on  Brookfield  to  Ware  River,  thence  on  Ware  River  to 
Hardwick,  thence  onHardwick  to  the  ten  thousand  acres  of  Equivalent 
lands  aforesaid,  and  thence  on  the  Bounds  of  the  said  ten  thousand 
acres,  including  the  same  unto  the  first  mentioned  Boundings.  They 
dwell  at  a  great  distance  from  any  place  of  public  worship,  most  of 
them  six  or  seven  miles,  and  therefore  cannot  enjoy  that  privilege  in 
their  present  condition,  but  as  their  Hearts  are  sincerely  desirous  of 
the  Public  Worship  of  God,  they  persuade  themselves  they  shall  be 
able  chearfuUy  to  bear  the  Charge  that  will  attend  it.  But  as  some  of 
them  belong  to  the  town  at  the  Elbows,  some  to  Brookfield,  and  the 
rest  of  them  live  on  farms  of  the  Province  Grants,  they  cannot  properly 
and  lawfully  Proceed  to  erect  and  maintain  the  Public  Worship  of  God 
among  them,  without  the  aid  of  this  Court,  and  therefore  Pray  this 
honorable  Court  by  a  suitable  Committee  of  this  Court,  to  inquire  into 
their  state  and  circumstances,  and  make  them  a  separate  and  distinct 
Township  or  Parish,  and  your  Petitioners  as  in  duty  bound  shall  ever 
pray,  &c. 

John  Read,  for  the  Petitioners. 

Jabez  Olmstead.  Paul  Thurston.  Joseph  Marks,  Sen. 

Jerm.  Olmstead.  Edm'd.  Ayres.  Joseph  Marks. 

Israel  Olmstead.  Isaac  Magoon,  Jun.  Joseph  Brooks. 

Jacob  Cummings,Jun.  Wm.  Paterson.  Benj'.  Shiple. 

Nahum  Davis.  Joseph  Simoxs.  John  Anderson. 

James  Cummings.  Job  Corlv,  Tho's.  Chapin. 

Jos.  Marsh.  Sam'l.  Marsh.  Daniel  Thurston. 

Rich'd.  Rogers.  Judah  Marsh.  Isaac  Magoon. 

JACf/B  Cummings.  Eph'm.  Marsh.  John  Post. 

Sam'l.  Allen.  Thomas  Marsh.  Sam'l.  Davis. 

In  the  House  of  Representatives,  June  2,  1742.  Read  and  ordered 
that  Capt.  Patridge  and  Capt  Converse  with  such  as  the  honorable 
Board  shall  joine,  be  a  Committee  to  view  the  State  and  Circumstances 
of  the  Petitioners.  They  giving  seasonable  Notice  to  the  Inhabitants 
or  Proprietors  of  Brookfield  and  the  Elbows  (so  called)  and  the  Inhab- 
itants of  Western  who  may  be  affected  thereby  :  that  they  may  be  pre- 
sent at  the  meeting  of  said  Committee  if  they  see  Cause :  The  Com- 
mittee to  report  as  soon  as  may  be  what  they  judge  proper  for  the 
Court  to  do  in  answer  to  this  Petition.  Sent  up  for  concurrence.  T. 
Gushing  Spk'r.  In  Council  June  8,  1742.  Read  and  Concurred  and 
Joseph  Wilder,  Esq.  is  joined  in  the  affair. 

J.  W^illard  Sect. 

Consented  to  W.  Shirley. 

Copy  examined  by  J.  Willard,  Sect. 

The  Committee  appointed  on  the  Petition  of  Thomas  Marsh  and 
others  living  near  Ware  River,  in  the  County  of  Hampshire,  have  at- 


HISTORICAL  ADDRESS.  17 

tended  on  said  service,  been  upon  the  Spot,  viewed  the  Lands  Prayed 
for  to  be  erected  into  a  township,  inquired  into  the  Circumstances  of 
the  petitioners,  and  heard  the  objections  of  some  of  the  Inhabitants  of 
Kingstown,*  and  are  of  opinion  that  the  Petitioners  at  present  are  not 
sufficient  in  order  to  erect  a  Town,  with  privileges,  &c.  But  inasmuch 
as  they  Live  at  aweary  great  distance  from  anyplace  of  public  worship 
and  meet  with  great  difficulty  thereby,  we  are  further  of  opinion  that  the 
Petitioners  living  Northward  of  a  Line  Run  due  easlf  from  the  South- 
west Corner  of  the  land  Belonging  to  John  Read,  Esq.,  to  Western 
Line,  be  freed  from  all  Taxes  to  any  other  place  or  Town  during  the 
Pleasure  of  the  General  Court,  so  that  they  may  be  able  to  Provide 
Preaching  among  themselves  which  is  submitted  in  the  name  and  by 
order  of  the  Committee. 

Dec.  4,  1712.  JOSEPH  WILDER. 

In  council  Read  and  ordered  that  this  Report  be  accepted  and  also 
that  the  Lands  within  the  limits  above  mentioned,  and  the  Inhabitants 
thereon,  be  erected  into  a  Precinct,  and  that  the  said  Inhabitants  have  the 
Powers  and  Privileges  which  other  Precincts  do,  or  by  Law  ought  to 
enjoy,  and  that  they  be  and  hereby  are  obliged  to  maintain  the  Public 
worship  of  God  among  them  in  the  Support  of  a  learned  orthodox  min- 
ister.    Sent  down  for  Concurrence. 

J.  WiLLARD,  Sect. 

In  the  house  of  Representatives,  Dec.  7,  1742.  Read  and  Con- 
curred. 

Attest,  RoLAiND  CoTTOX,  Clerk.  Dom.  Rep. 
Consented  to,  W.  Shirley. 

Copy  examined  per  J.  Willard,  Sect. 

The  following  deed  from  Mr.  Read,  uill  show  that  he 
took  some  interest  in  establishing  religious  institutions  here. 

"  To  all  People  to  whom  this  writing  shall  come,  I  John  Read  of 
Boston,  in  the  County  of  Suflblk,  Send  Greeting.  Know  Ye  that  for 
the  founding  and  Indowment  of  a  Parish  Church  on  the  Ten  Thou- 
sand acres  of  Equivalent  lands,  lying  on  the  East  side  of  Swift  River, 
upon  the  Road  from  Brookfield  to  Hadley,  and  now  called  the  mannor 
of  Peace,  I  do  hereby  give,  grant,  convey  and  confirm  unto  Jabez 
Olmstead,  Gent,  and  Isaac  Magoon,  Yeoman,  living  near  the  said  man- 
nor, and  William  Blackmer,  John  Davis  and  Benjamin  Lull  of  the  said 
mannor,  Yeomen,  the  Sixth  lott  of  land  from  the  North  of  the  fourth 
Tier  of  lotts  from  the  East  in  the  mannor  of  Peace,  Extending  South 
on  a  four  rod  highway  a  hundred  rod  wide,  and  from  thence  West  and 
by  South  half  a  mile  long.  Also,  part  of  the  fifth  lot  near  against  the 
middle  of  that  extending  west  and  by  South  on  the  Main  road  twenty 
rod  wide  and  from  thence  North  twenty  four  rod  long  with  the  appur- 
tenances. To  Have  and  to  Hold  the  Sixth  lot  and  part  of  the  fifth  lot 
aforesaid  with  the  appurtenances  to  them  the  said  Jabez  Olmstead,  Isaac 
Magoon,  William  Blackmer,  John  Davis  and  Benjamin  Lull,  and  their 
heirs  forever,  in  special  Trust  and  confidence  for  the  only  uses,  intents 

*  Now  Palmer. 

f  The  South  line  of  the  Equivalent  ran  E.  by  N.     The  strip  be- 
tween these  lines  was  called  "The  Garter." 
3 


18  HISTORICAL  ADDRESS. 

and  purposes  hereafter  exprest,  viz.  for  the  use  of  the  first  minister  of 
God's  Holy  word  and  Sacraments,  who  shall  be  freely  chosen  by  the 
Inhabitants,  free  holders  of  the  said  manner  and  such  others  as  the  laws 
of  the  Government  shall  joyn  in  one  Parish  with  them,  or  by  the  ma- 
jor part  of  them,  and  thereupon  be  lawfully  Instituted  and  Ordained  to 
that  holy  office  there  and  such  his  successors  forever,  in  pure  and 
perpetual  Almes,  and  for  these  special  purposes,  viz.  the  three  acres, 
part  of  the  fifth  lot  aforesaid,  for  the  founding  and  continuance  of  a 
Parish  Church  and  Christian  Burying  place  forever  :  and  the  Sixth  lot 
for  a  Glebe  thereunto  annexed  for  the  improvement  of  such  Minister 
and  his  Successors  at  their  discretion  towards  their  maintenance  and 
.support  forever.  In  witnesfe  whereof  I  hereunto  put  my  hand  and  seal 
this  nineteenth  day  of  September,  Anno  Dom.  seventeen  hundred  and 
forty  eight. 

Signed,  sealed,  and  delivered  in  presence  of  )  j^q  ^^j^^^  ^^^  g^^j_ 
Joseph  Ayres,  Lemuel  Llackmer.      ^  ' 

Hampshire,  ss.  At  an  Inferiour  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  held  at 
Northampton  by  adjournment  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  March  Anno 
Dom.  1757.  Then  Lemuel  Blackmer  one  of  the  Witnesses  to  ye 
w^ithin  written  Instrument  appearing,  made  solemn  Oath  that  he  saw 
John  Read,  Esq.,  now  deceased,  in  his  lifetime,  sign,  seal,  and  Exe- 
cate  the  within  instrument,  as  his  act  and  deed,  that  he  signed  as  a 
Witness  to  the  same,  and  saw  Joseph  Ayres  sign  as  a  Witness  also,  at 
ye  same  time. 

Attest,  J.  Williams,  Clerk. 
Rec'd.  March  24th,  1757,  and  Recorded  from  the  Original. 

Edw'd.  Pynchon,  Reg'r; 

The  warrant  for  the  first  meeting  of  the  precinct  was  is- 
sued Feb.  18,  1742-3  by  William  Pynchon,  Esq.  of  Spring- 
field. It  will  be  remembered  that  the  change  from  the  old 
style  to  new  was  not  recognized  in  this  country  until  1752. 
Previous  to  which  the  year  commenced  on  the  25th  March, 
and  the  dates  upon  our  records,  between  the  1st  of  January 
and  that  time  are  double.  The  first  meeting  was  March  15, 
1742-3,  at  the  house  of  Jabez  Oimstead,  near  where  the 
Bank  now  is, where  they  met  for  some  years.  Jacob  Cummings 
was  the  Moderator  of  the  first  meeting,  and  he  with  Edward 
Ayres  and  Joseph  Simons  were  chosen  Precinct  Committee, 
John  Post,  clerk.  The  object  of  this  meeting,  after  choos- 
ing Precinct  officers,  was  to  raise  money  to  defray  the  ex- 
penses of  the  act  of  incorporation,  and  for  preaching  the 
Gospel.  It  was  voted  to  raise  ten  pounds  and  six  shillings 
old  tenor,  to  pay  the  charge  of  the  committee,  surveyor, 
and  chain-men,  and  to  raise  forty  pounds,  old  tenor,  to  hire 
preaching  with.  In  consequence  of  the  depreciation  of  the 
currency  at  that  time,  two  shillings  and  eight  pence  sterling, 
was  the  value  of  twenty  shillings,  old  tenor. 


HISTORICAL  ADDRESS.  19 

It  was  not  my  intention  to  go  into  the  ecclesiastical  histo- 
ry of  the  town  at  this  titne,  but  to  leave  that  part  to  those 
who  may  properly  be  supposed  to  take  the  deepest  interest 
in  those  things.  But  I  should  give  you  but  a  meagre  ac- 
count of  the  first  settlers  of  the  town,  were  I  to  omit  this 
part  of  their  history.  It  was  their  desire  to  hear  the  gospel 
which  moved  them  to'get  set-off  as  a  separate  parish,  and 
the  records  show  that  its  maintenance  was  first  in  their  hearts. 
Up  to  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  East  Congrega- 
tional Society,  in  1826,  there  was  but  one  religious  Society 
in  town.  All  the  business  relating  to  the  settlement  and 
support  of  ministers  was  transacted  in  town  meeting.  I 
shall  therefore  give  a  brief  history  of  the  ministry  in  town. 
May  5,  1743.  The  Precinct  "  voted  to  hire  INIr.  Dickin- 
son to  preach  among  us,  until  the  forty  pounds  we  granted 
is  spent."  In  March,  1744,  sixty  pounds  were  raised  for 
the  support  of  the  gospel,  and  several  candidates  employed. 
In  Nov.  1745,  Mr.  Henry  Carey  was  invited  to  settle  as 
their  minister,  but  declined. 

Soon  after  the  incorporation  of  the  Precinct,  efforts  were 
made  to  build  a  house  of  worship,  but  they  could  not  agree 
upon  the  spot.  Nathaniel  Dwiglit  of  Belchertovvn,  was  em- 
ployed to  find  the  geographical  centre  of  the  town,  which  is 
a  few  rods  north  of  the  meeting  house  now  standing  in  the 
west  parish.  In  1748,  it  was  voted  "  to  build  a  house  40 
by  35,  18  feet  posts,  to  pay  twelve  shillings,  old  tenor,  for 
common  laborers,  eighteen  shillings  for  team  and  cart." 
But  nothing  efficient  was  done,  until  Sept.  1750,  when  it 
was  voted  to  build  a  house  30  by  25, — 15  feet  posts. 
"  Voted  to  raise  the  sum  of  thirty  pounds,  thirteen  shillings 
and  four  pence,  lawful  money,  to  defray  the  charges  of  build- 
ing and  covering  the  meeting  house.  £20  13s-  4'1-  to  be 
paid  in  labor  and  covering  and  slitwork,  provided  that 
every  freeholder  will  "pay  to  the  committee  or  collector  the 
labor  or  materials  his  due  proportion, — that  he  shall  be  as- 
sessed, upon  suitable  notice,  and  four  pounds  for  to  procure 
nails  for  the  meeting  house.  Voted,  that  labor  shall  be  set 
at  the  value  of  eighteen  shillings  per  day,  and  team  work 
answerable,  and  boards  at  nine  pounds,  equal  to  old  tenor, 
and  shingles  at  four  pounds  ten  shillings,  old  tenor."  Jacob 
Cummings,  Joseph  Scoit,  Edward  Ayres,  Samuel  Allen, 
and  John  Taplln,  were  chosen  building  committee.  It  was 
some  years  before  the  house  was  completed,  if  it  was  ever 
entirely  done.     "  Sept.  4,  1760. — It  was  voted  to  have  an 


20  HISTORICAL  ADDRESS. 

alley  three  feet  wide,  between  the  men's  and  women's  seats." 
In  June,  1762,  "  voted  to  allow  Thomas  Andrews  six  pounds 
to  plaister  the  meeting  house  over  head."  Sept.  24,  1766, 
"  Voted,  that  Thomas  Andrews  shall  halve  the  boards  over 
head  in  the  meeting  house,  and  is  to  have  what  the  workmen 
judge  it  worth  for  said  halving."  It  was  used  as  a  place  of 
worship  until  the  year  1800,  when  the  house  that  has  been 
recently  remodeled  in  the  west  parish,  was  built. 

March,  1750-51,  "  it  was  voted  to  ordain  the  worthy 
Mr.  Grindall  Rawson  in  this  Precinct,  on  the  second  Wed- 
nesday in  May  next."  His  answer  to  the  call  is  dated  Feb. 
11,  1750,  and  as  a  specimen  of  the  man  and  of  the  times, 
I  copy  it  from  the  records,  where  it  is'entered,  apparently  in 
his  own  hand  writing. 

"  My  BRETHRE^^, 

Since  you  were  so  unanimous  in  your  invitation  of  me  to  settle  with 
you  in  the  work  of  the  Gospel  Ministry,  (there  beiujo-  not  so  much  as 
one~  negative  vote,)  upon  seriously  addressing-  myself  to  the  throne 
of  grace,  as  I  trust  for  direction,  in  the  ffreat  affair,  after  proper  reflec- 
tion upon  the  difficulties  you  would  be  likely  to  be  thrown  into  upon  my 
Isaving  you, — notwithstanding  the  great  discouragements  in  regard  to 
my  outward  subsistence  at  present,  and  the  many  satisfactions  of  life 
of  which  I  foresee  I  must  deny  myself,  more  I  believe  than  you  are 
sensible  of,  or  is  any  wav  necessary  for  me  to  recite,  which  have  set 
very  heavy  upon  my  mind,  and  have  for  a  long  time  preyed  upon  my 
spirits,  and  had  I  have  hearkened  to  the  struggles  of  animal  nature, 
would  soon  have  determined  me  to  have  left  you,  tho'  in  the  greatest 
confusion  ;  yet  a  sense  of  duty  and  a  desire  of  promoting  your  ever- 
lasting peace  and  welfare,  have  counterpoised  all  other  difRculties,  so 
that  I  have  concluded  to  comply  with  your  request,  and  accept  of  your 
invitation  ;  hoping  that  God  in  his  Providence  will  so  order  it,  that  we 
shall  be  mutual  blessings  to  one  another.  And  as  it  is  not  yours,  but 
you  that  I  shall  seek,  I  hope  that  you  will  be  ready  to  contribute  to  me 
at  all  times  of  your  temporals,  as  I  shall  be  ready  to  do  to  you  in  spir- 
ituals, to  the  utmost  of  my  power,  and  have  no  g-reater  joy,  I  hope, 
than  in  promotinj  your  good,  and  seeing  you  walking  in  the  truth,  and 
that  I  shall  so  walk  before  you  in  a  sober  and  Godly  life,  that  you  may 
have  me  for  an  example,  and  that  both  in  my  living  and  preaching,  I 
may  set  forward  the  religion  of  Jesus. 

Brethren,  pray  for  me,  that  I  may  be  made  a  precious  gift  of  our  as- 
cended Saviour  to  you.  I  hope  that  you  will  never  do  any  thing  to 
weaken  my  hands  or  discourage  my  heart,  [which  I  assure  you  is  almost 
dismayed  already  under  the  sjloomy  prospect,]  nor  expect  perfection 
from  me,  for  I  am  a  man  of  Uhe  passions,  and  subject  to  human  infirm- 
ities, which  I  hope  you  will  ever  be  ready  to  cover  with  a  mantle  of 
love.  And  that  you  may  behave  yourselves,  as  becomes  knowing,  wise 
and  discreet  christians,  nothing  wavering  or  unsteady,  shall  ever  be 
my  prayer  for  you. 

GRINDALL  RAWSON." 
Peace,  Feb.  II,  1750. 


HISTORICAL  ADDRESS.  21 

Mr.  Rawson's  salary  for  the  first  two  years  was  to  be 
i45,  the  third  year  three  pounds  to  be  added,  and  four 
pounds  annually  afterwards  till  it  should  be  sixty  pounds,  and 
£100  settlement.  He  was  ordained  May  8,  1751.*  The 
same  day  a  church  was  organized,  but  it  is  not  known  of 
how  many  members  it  consisted.  It  must  have  been  small, 
as  the  whole  number  which  had  been  admitted  at  the  time  of 
Mr.  Rawson's  dismission,  Jan.  19,  1754,  was  but  43.  But 
little  is  known  of  Mr.  Rawson's  history  or  character. 
Traditional  accounts  represent  him  as  a  man  of  little 
seriousness,  comeliness  or  refinement.  Some  disaffection 
seems  to  have  shown  itself  soon  after  his  settlement,  for  May 
12,  1752,  it  was  voted,  "  to  reconsider  the  vote  giving  Air. 
Rawson  a  call,  and  for  paying  the  salary  and  settlement." 
The  collectors  neglected  or  refused  to  collect  the  taxes  for 
his  salary,  and  a  petition  was  sent  to  his  Majesty's  council  and 
House  of  Representatives,  asking  power  to  excuse  the  col- 
lectors, and  choose  others  in  their  stead,  which  was  granted. 

Mr.  Rawson's  request  for  a  dismission  is  upon  record  as 
follows : 

"  To  the  Committee  of  Ware  River  Parish,  to  be  communicated  to 
the  parish. 

You  are  sensible  that  for  some  time  I  have  wanted  to  be  released 
from  my  relation  to  Ware  River  Parish  as  a  minister,  and  as  the  major 
part  of  the  voters  have  dismissed  me  from  my  relation  to  them  as  a 
minister,  I  gladly  accept  the  opportunity  of  releasing  myself  from  you, 
especially  as  the  major  part  of  my  church  have  this  day  invited  me  to 
accompany  them  into  a  new  settlement  of  which  I  have  accepted,  and 
I  therefore  do  now  release  you  from  your  relation  to  me  as  a  minister 
from  this  day  forward,  as  witness  my  hand,  Jan.  30,  1754. 

GRINDALL  RAWSON." 

It  does  not  appear  that  any  council  was  called  to  dissolve 
the  connexion.  Mr.  Rawson  was  afterwards  settled  in  Yar- 
mouth, Mass.  in  1755,  where  he  remained   but  a  (ew  years. 

*  The  Council  at  the  ordination  of  Mr.  Rawson,  were 
Rev.  John  Campbell,  of  Oxford. 
"    Grindall  Rawson,  of  Hadlyme,  Conn. 
"    Robert  Breck,  1st  church,  of  Springfield. 
"    Caleb  Rice,  of  Sturbridge. 
"    David  White,  of  Hardwick. 

"    Noah  Mirick,  of  4th  church,  Springfield,  (now  Wilbraham.) 
"    Thomas  Skinner,  of  Westchester,  in  Colchester,  Ct. 
"    Benjamin  Bowers,  of  Middle  Haddam,  Ct. 
"    Isaac  Jones,  of  Western,  (now  Warren.) 
"    Pelatiah  Webster,  of  Quabbin,  (now  Greenwich.) 
each  -with  his  delegate. 


22  fflSTORICAL  ADDRESS. 

He  is  believed  to  have  been  a  Chaplain  in  the  Revolu- 
tion.* 

After  Mr.  Rawson's  dismission,  there  does  not  appear  to 
have  been  regular  preaching  for  some  time.  The  poverty 
of  the  people  rendered  it  exceeding  difficult  to  collect  the 
taxes.  It  appears  the  precinct  "  voted  Jan.  1,  1755,  that 
the  collectors  of  Ware  River  Parish  that  are  behind  in  their 
collections,  pay  in  and  make  up  their  collection  to  the  Parish 
Committee,  excepting  so  much  as  the  court  assigned  to  Mr. 
Ravvson,  by  the  hand  of  Mr.  Edward  Ayres,  for  this  reason, 
that  the  Parish  Treasurer  is  reduced  to  such  low  circum- 
stances, that  the  parish  are  not  willing  to  trust  any  more  in 
his  hands." 

In  the  fall  of  1758,  the  church  and  Precinct  called  Mr. 
Ezra  Thayer  to  become  their  minister,  and  he  was  or- 
dained Jan.  10,  1759.  His  salary  was  to  be  £40  for  three 
years,  then  £3  to  be  added  yearly  till  it  became  £55,  and 
as  settlement,  ^100.  A  deed  of  the  parsonage  land  is  ac- 
knowledged by  him  as  part  of  the  settlement,  J£66  13«-  4'^- 
He  lived  where  Samuel  Holbrook  now  lives.  To  this  time 
the  church  had  no  confession  of  faith,  and  one  was  proposed 
by  the  ordaining  council  and  adopted.  The  half  way  cove- 
nant plan  prevailed  to  considerable  extent,  and  injured  the 
prosperity  of  the  church.  Mr.  Thayer  continued  to  be 
minister  till  his  death,  Feb.  12,  1775.  Seventy-nine  were 
received  into  the  church  in  full  communion,  during  his  min- 
istry. 

Mr.  Thayer  was  a  native  of  IMendon,  graduated  at  Har- 
vard College,  1756.  He  is  said  to  have  been  a  plain  man, 
of  pleasing  address,  and  to  have  secured  the  confidence  of 
the  people.  The  town  erected  tomb  stones  to  mark  the 
place  of  his  burial,  as  a  token  of  their  respect. 

The  following  is  the  Epitaph  on  his  tomb  stone,  now 
standing  in  the  burying  ground  in  the  West  Parish. 

"  In  Memory  of  the  Rev.  Ezra  Thayer,  the  Learned,  Pious,  Faith- 
ful, and  Deservedly  Esteemed  Pastor  of  the  Church  in  this  town,  who 

*  I  find  there  have  been  three  ministers  of  the  same  name, — Grin- 
dall  Rawson,  who  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  1678,  settled  in  Men- 
don  1680,  where  he  died,  1715. 

A  nother  Grindall  Rawson  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  1728 — was 
settled  as  the  first  minister  in  South  Hadley,  1733,  where  he  is  spoken 
of  by  President  Edwards,  as  a  successful  minister.  He  was  afterwards 
settled  at  Hadlyme,  Ct.  1745,  where  he  died  in  1777.  Grindall  Raw- 
son,  the  first  minister  in  Ware,  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  1741, 
and  died  in  1794,  aged  73.  The  first  was  probably  the  grand- father^ 
the  second,  an  uncle  of  the  latter. 


HISTORICAL  ADDRESS.  23 

died  Feb.  12,  1775,  in  the  43d  year  of  his  age,  and  the  16th  of  his 
ministry. 

Go  reader  mind 
The  better  part, 
Believe  the  Gospel, 
Mend  thy  heart. 
Go  learn  to  live, 
Learn  to  die. 
For  die  thou  must 
As  well  as  I." 

In  17S0,  jNIr.  Winslow  Packard  was  invited  to  become 
the  minister,  but  declined  this,  as  well  as  a  renewal  of  the 
call.  In  1785,  Mr.  Jeremiah  Hallock  preached  here  as  a 
candidate,  and  an  unsuccessful  attempt  was  made  to  settle 
him.  While  he  was  preaching  here,  an  unusual  interest  was 
manifested  in  religion.  He  afterwards  was  an  eminent  min- 
ister at  Canton,  Ct.,  and  an  interesting  memoir  of  him  was 
compiled  by  Rev.  Cyrus  Yale,  of  New  Hartford,  Ct.  A 
few  sentences  from  his  diary,  while  he  was  preaching  in  this 
place,  will  be  interesting. 

"  1785,  Oct.  17,  Sabbath.  Spent  some  lime  in  medita- 
tion and  prayer  this  morning.  The  people  were  very  atten- 
tive. O,  may  I  never  forget  the  mercies  of  the  Lord. — 
Had  a  very  full  and  attentive  conference  this  evening.  Had 
freedom  in  discourse,  and  so  had  others. — Some  appear- 
ance of  an  awakening — O,  may  it  come  on,  O,  may  it  come 
on.  Nov.  7. — A  remarkable  meeting  this  evening.  Some 
suppose  there  were  three  hundred  persons  present — was  en- 
abled to  preach  with  freedom  to  the  most  affected  audience 
I  ever  saw. 

Feb.  1.  Visited  my  pleasant  grove,  and  took  my  farewell  of 
Ware.  I  have  been  there  twelve  Sabbaths.  W^hen  I  came 
the  young  people  were  light  and  gay,  but  it  has  pleased  God 
to  awaken  them  so  that  their  frolicks  are  turned  into  confer- 
ences, and  to  God's  name  be  all  the  glory.  There  are 
about  twelve  hopefid  converts." 

In  July,  1785,  Mr.  Benjamin  Judd  was  invited  to  settle 
as  a  minister,  and  was  ordained,  Oct.  12.  He  probably 
came  from  the  county  of  Berkshire,  as  his  ordination  sermon 
was  preached  by  Rev.  Daniel  Collins  of  Lanesboro'.  Dr. 
West  of  Stockbridge,  Rev.  Mr.  Perry  of  Richmond,  and 
Rev.  JNIr.  Munson  of  Lenox,  were  members  of  the  council. 
The  people  were  not  united  in  calling  Mr.  Judd,  and  un- 
happily difficulties  soon  arose,  which  resulted  in  his  dismis- 


24  HISTORICAL  ADDRESS. 

sion,  Sept.  28,  1787,  and  no  minister  was  settled  for  five 
years. 

In  March,  1792,  the  church  and  town  gave  an  unanimous 
invitation  to  Mr.  Reuben  Moss,  to  become  their  minister, 
and  he  was  ordained  June  12th.  He  was  a  native  of  Che- 
shire, Ct.,  graduated  at  Yale  College,  1787,  and  studied 
Theology  with  Rev.  Dr.  Trumbull,  of  New  Haven.  He 
received  £80  salary,  and  j6150  settlement.  The  following 
is  his  answer  to  the  call,  copied  from  the  original,  which  has 
been  carefully  preserved. 

"  To  the  Church  and  other  Inhabitants  in  Ware. 

Brethren  and  Friends, 

I  have  taken  your  Call  to  settle  with  you  as  a 
Gospel  minister,  into  serious,  deliberate  and  prayerful  Consideration. 
Influenced  by  Solomon's  Assertion,  In  the  multitude  of  Counsellors 
there  is  safety,  I  have  also  asked  the  opinion  of  my  Honoured  Parents 
and  of  many  Reverend  Fathers  in  the  Ministry.  On  the  whole,  re- 
viewing the  singular  Providence  of  God,  in  opening  a  door  for  me  to 
preach  the  gospel  among  you,  the  Unanimity  of  your  hearts  in  Elect- 
ing me  for  your  pastor,  Your  generous  Proposals  for  my  temporal  sup- 
port and  the  joint  Encouragement  of  all  to  whom  I  have  made  appli- 
cation for  advice  to  go  forward,  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  the  Voice 
of  the  People  is  the  voice  of  God,  saying  this  is  the  way,  walk  in  it': 
however,  contemplating  the  Magnitude  and  extent  of  a  good  work, 
how  many  fiery  darts  may  be  hurled  at  an  Officer  in  the  Church  mili- 
itant,  and  the  Solemn  account  all  who  watch  for  souls  must  give  at  the 
last  great  day,  I  am  ready  to  adopt  the  language  of  the  apostle,  who  is 
sufficient  for  these  things.  But  the  Captain  of  our  Salvation  hath 
said,  Lo  I  am  with  you  always.  Animated  by  this  Great  and  precious 
promise,  I  Cheerfully  comply  with  your  joint  invitation.  Let  me.be 
Interested  always  in  your  efl^ectual  fervent  prayers,  and  constantly  sup- 
ported by  your  pious  Examples,  and  I  think  I  shall  be  cordially  willing 
to  spend  and  be  spent  for  you. 

I  bow  my  knees  unto  the  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  that  he 
would  satisfy  you  Early  with  his  mercies,  do  you  good  and  make  you 
Glad  according  to  the  days  wherein  he  hath  afflicted  you,  and  the 
years  wherein  you  have  seen  Evil.  Now  the  God  of  hope  pour  his 
spirit  upon  you,  and  his  blessing  upon  your  offspring  and  fill  you  all, 
both  old  and  young  with  all  joy  and  peace  in  believing,  that  ye  may 
abound  in  hope,  through  the  power  of  the  holy  Ghost.  Permit  me  to 
subscribe  myself  vour  servant  for  Jesus'  Sake. 

REUBEN  MOSS. 

N.  B.  As  Ware  is  so  far  from  my  kindred  according  to  the  flesh, 
from  the  public  seats  of  Literature,  &c.,  I  may  have  occasion  to  be 
absent  three  or  four  Sabbaths  Yearly. 

P.  S.  It  is  written  If  any  man  provide  not  for  his  own  but  especially 
for  those  of  his  own  house,  he  hath  denied  the  faith,  and  is  worse  than 
an  Infidel.  You  will  expect  therefore  that  I  pay  suitable  attention  to 
the  things  which  are  seen.     I  shall  consider  it  an  act  of  kindness  if 


HISTORICxVL  ADDRESS.  25 

the  town  will  give  their  oblig-ation  to  Mr.  Thomas  Marsh  for  forty-live 
pounds  as  soon  as  he  procures  and  delivers  me  a  Warranty  Deed  of  the 
seventeen  acres  of  land  called  his  wife's  thirds.  If  it  be  your  pleasure 
that  the  year  in  our  computation  of  time  respecting  my  annual  Salary 
commence  the  first  day  of  April,  when  I  last  returned  to  you  from  Pel- 
ham,  I  have  no  objections.— Once  more  I  beg  leave  to  rely  on  your 
punctuality.  Punctuality  will  be  best  for  you,  for  in  general  sufficient 
unto  a  year  are  the  burdens  thereof.  Punctuality  I  apprehend  will  be 
of  great  service  to  me.  I  suppose  I  shall  be  willing  to  enter  into  a  fa- 
mily state,  as  soon  as  I  can  procure  Decent  Buildings  without  being 
much  involved,  and  I  have  but  little  to  depend  onto  defray  the  expense 
of  Building,  besides  my  annual  income  and  the  kind  donation  of  a  gen- 
erous people.  Punctuality,  therefore,  and  any  assistance  which  has 
been  or  may  be  proposed,  will  be  received  with  gratitude  by  him  who 
is  cheerfully  devoted  to  the  service  of  God  our  Saviour  among  you. 
Finally,  Brethren,  be  perfect,  be  of  good  Comfort,  be  of  one  mind,  live 
in  peace,  and  the  God  of  Love  and  Peace  shall  be  with  you.  Happy 
is  that  People  that  is  in  such  a  case,  yea  happy  is  that  People  whose 
God  is  the  Lord. 

Ware,  May  18,  1792. 

REUBEN  MOSS,  TO  THE  WHOLE  TOWN, 

Greeting. 
As  it  is  customary  in  this  Commonwealth  for  every  family  to  make  an 
Entertainment,  I  am  sensible  the  expenses  of  Ordination  have  been 
pretty  considerable.  And  you  been  at  some  Cost  and  pains  in  sending 
to  call  my  distant  friends.  Desirous  therefore  of  sharing  with  you  in 
the  Expenses  of  Ordination  and  of  exhibiting  a  public  solid  testimony 
of  my  grateful  sense  of  your  kindness  in  sending  so  far  to  my  old 
friends,  I  request  you  to  accept  of  five  pounds.  If  you  comply  whh 
this  request,  the  Assessors  may  be  directed  to  make  a  rate  bill  for  this 
year's  Salary,  which  will  amount  only  to  seventy-five  pounds. 

The  Moderator  of  the  Town  Meeting  of  Ware,  to  be  communicated. 

Ware,  June  26,  1792. 
In  answer  to  this,  the  town  voted  ''  to  accept  of  Mr.  Moss'  gratis." 

Mr.  Moss  continued  in  the  ministry  in  this  place  until  his 
death,  Feh.  17,  1809,  more  than  sixteen  years.  He  was  a 
very  successful  and  devoted  minister.  During  his  labors, 
fifty  were  added  to  the  church,  forty-two  by  profession,  and 
eight  by  recommendation  from  other  churches.  He  was  a 
man  of  ardent  piety,  of  refined  feelings,  and  somewhat  dis- 
tinguished as  a  Biblical  scholar.  Asa  preacher,  he  was 
plain  atid  practical,  and  enforced  his  instructions  by  a  blame- 
less example.  Many  now  remember  him  as  the  faithful  and 
affectionate  friend  of  the  young.  He  was  particular  in  his 
attention  to  the  district  schools.  At  the  time  of  his  settle- 
ment they  were  in  a  low  and  disorderly  state,  but  they  very 
soon  became  very  much  improved  through  his  attention  and 
influence.  By  his  effort  in  this  department  of  his  labors,  he 
4 


26  HISTORICAL  ADDRESS. 

was  instrumental  in  preparing  a  large  number  of  young  men 
to  engage  in  the  instruction  of  schools  in  this  and  neighbor- 
ing towns.  No  town  in  this  vicinity  it  is  said,  furnished  so 
many  teachers.  The  tone  of  moral  feeling  and  the  standard 
of  education  were  greatly  raised  among  the  people.  Twice 
during  his  ministry,  he  was  afflicted  with  derangement,  and 
died  at  the  age  of  fifty.* 

July  9,  1810.  Rev.  Samuel  Ware  was  invited  to  settle 
as  minister,  and  was  ordained  Oct.  31.  Salary,  .^400,  and 
a  settlement  of  $i500,  if  he  should  remain  fifteen  years.  He 
was  a  useful  minister,  and  was  much  blessed  in  his  labors, 
for  more  than  fifteen  years,  and  gathered  one  hundred  and 
ninety-seven  into  the  church,  177  by  profession,  and  20  by 
letter  from  other  churches.  He  was  dismissed  in  conse- 
quence of  ill  health,  in  1826,  and  the  following  vote  passed 
by  the  town,  July  3,  will  show  the  esteem  in  which  he  was 
held.  "  Voted,  unanimously,  that  agreeably  to  his  request, 
we  dismiss  and  cordially  recommend  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Ware,  as  an  exemplary  christian,  and  an  able,  judicious  and 
faithful  minister  of  the  gospel." 

Jn  July  19,  1826,  Rev.  Augustus  B.  Reed,  a  native  of 
Rehoboth,  and  graduate  of  Brown  University,  in  1821,  was 
installed  as  pastor  of  the  church  and  people.  The  same 
council  dismissed  Mr.  Ware,  who  is  still  living.  To  this 
time,  all  business  pertaining  to  the  affairs  of  the  parish  had 
been  done  in  town  meeting.  Mr.  Reed  continued  the  min- 
ister of  the  first  parish  until  June  5,  1838,  when  be  was  dis- 
missed on  account  of  feeble  health.  He  died  in  this  town, 
Sept.  30,  1838,  aged  nearly  40. 

Rev.  Hervey  Smith,  his  successor,  was  installed  Sept. 
19,  1838,  dismissed  1840,  and  is  now  living  in  the  state  of 
New  York. 

Rev.  William  E.  Dixon,  of  Enfield,  Ct.,  a  graduate  of 
Williams  College,  was  ordained  Jan.  14,  1841,  and  dismiss- 
ed May  26,  1842.     He   is  now  living  in  his  native  place. 

Rev.  David  N.  Cohurn,  from  Thompson,  Cl.,  a  graduate 
of  Amherst  College,  was  ordained  Sept.  21,  1842,  and  is 
the   present  minister  of  the  first  church. 

Until  1825,  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  had  generally  met 
in  one  place  of  worship.     In  consequence  of  the  flourishing 

*  Mr.  Moss  married  Mrs.  Hadassah  Cheesebrough,  of  Stonington, 
Ct.  where  some  of  his  descendants  now  live.  He  built  the  house  now 
owned  by  Reuel  Washburn.  It  was  afterwards  owned  by  Rev.  Mr, 
Ware. 


HISTORICAL  ADDRESS.  27 

village  which  rose  as  by  magic  in  that  year  on  the  eastern 
border  of  the  town,  containing  about  one  half  of  the  popula- 
tion, it  was  found  necessary  to  form  a  new  society,  and 
erect  a  house  of  worship.  In  April,  1826,  a  society  was 
organized,  and  a  church  formed,  April  12.  Rev.  Parsons 
Cook,  a  native  of  Hadley,  and  a  graduate  of  Williams  Col- 
ilege,  was  ordained  June  21,  1826.*  The  same  year  the 
house  of  worship  now  occupied  by  the  East  Congregational 
Society  was  built.  The  house  has  been  remodelled  the  past 
year,  and  will  compare  advantageously  with  any  house  in  the 
commonwealth  west  of  Worcester.  It  will  seat  900  per- 
sons. Mr.  Cook  continued  pastor  of  the  church  until  April 
13,  1835.  He  gathered  350  members  into  the  church  dur- 
ing his  ministry.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Cyrus  Yale, 
from  New  Hartford,  Ct.,  installed  June  11,  1S35,  who  was 
dismissed,  and  returned  to  his  former  field  of  labor  Aug.  3, 
1837. 

Rev.  Jonathan  Edwards  Woodbridge,  a  native  of  Wor- 
thington  in  this  county,  and  college  class-mate  of  Mr.  Cook, 
was  installed  May  2,  1838.  He  was  dismissed  Dec.  28, 
1840,  to  become  one  of  the  editors  of  the  N.  E.  Puritan, 
in  connexion  with  Rev.  Mr.  Cook. 

June  28,  1842,  the  present  n)inister,  Rev.  Nahum  Gale 
3s  ordained.     He   is   a  native  of  .     ' 
graduated  at  Amherst  College,  183'/ 

Since  the  Village  sprung  up,  a  small  Methodist  Society 
has  existed  here. 

A  Baptist  Society,  just  over  the  line  in  Hardwick  has  ex- 
isted for  more  than  fifty  years,  to  which  Rev.  Ebenezer 
Burt  has  preached  most  of  the  time,  and  to  which  some  fa- 
milies in  this  town  have  belonged.  During  the  last  year,  a 
Baptist  church  has  been  organized  in  the  Village,  and  Rev. 
Amory  Gale,  a  graduate  of  Brown  University,  was  ordain- 
ed Nov.  11,  1846.  They  have  not  yet  erected  a  house  of 
worship,  but  propose  to  do  so  this  year. 

A  small  Free  Will  Baptist  church  has  existed  a  few  years 
in  the  southwest  part  of  the  town,  but  has  no  house  of  wor- 
ship. 

A  house  is  now  going  up  for  an  Unitarian  Society  in  the 
Village. 

*  The  services  at  the  ordination  were,  Sermon,  by  Rev.  Dr.  Wood- 
bridge,  of  Hadley.  Ordaining  Prayer,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Vaill,  of  Brimfield. 
Charge,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Ely  of  Monson.  Right  hand  of  fellowship,  by 
Rev.  Mr.  Gridley  of  WiUiamstown.  Concluding  Prayer,  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Sweet,  of  Palmer. ' 


28 


HISTORICAL  ADDRESS. 


The  following  persons  have  been   deacons  in  the   first 
church,  viz: — 


JACOB  CUMMINGS, 

Chosen  1751. 

Died  Feb.  27,  1776. 

JOHN  DAVIS, 

"       1751. 

Date  of  death  not  known 

MAVERICK  SMITH, 

"       1758. 

Died  Sept.  11,  1789. 

THOMAS  JENKINS, 

"       1768. 

"     March  24,  1792. 

WILLIAM  PAIGE, 

"       1789. 

"     June  23,  1826. 

DANIEL  GOULD, 

"       1789. 

"     July  10,  1834. 

JOSEPH  CUMMINGS 

,       "       1815. 

Dismissed,  1826. 

ELI  SNOW, 

"       1815. 

Died,Dec.23,1835. 

WARNER  BROWN, 

"       1826. 

Deposed,  1830. 

ENOS  DAVIS, 

"       1830. 

Died  May  10,  1837. 

ABNER  LEWIS, 

"       1835. 

THOMAS  SNELL, 

"       1837. 

The  deacons  in  the  East  Congregational  Church. 

JOSEPH  CUMMINGS,  chosen  in  1826. 

LUTHER  BROWN, 

THOMAS  THWING, 

JOHN  TOLMAN, 

WILLIAM  HYDE, 

LEWIS  DEMOND, 


"       "   1826. 

Resigned,  1841 

"       "   1826. 

1837 

"       "   1837. 

"       "   1837. 

"       "   1844. 

CIVIL  HISTOHY. 

Ware  was  incorporated  as  a  town  Nov.  25,  1761.  The 
first  warrant  for  town  meeting  was  issued  by  Eleazar  Porter, 
Esq.  of  Hadley,  Feb.  23,  1762,  and  the  meeting  held 
March  9ih.  William  Brakenridge  was  chosen  clerk.  He 
had  been  clerk  of  the  Precinct  from  1757,  and  held  the  of- 
fice until  1777.  The  first  board  of  Selectmen  were  Sam- 
uel Sherman,  William  Brakenridge,  John  Davis,  Jacob 
Cuminings,  and  Judah  Marsh,  who  were  also  Assessors, — 
Jacob  Cummings,  Treasurer.  The  first  town  meetings  were 
called  in  His  Majesty's  name,  which  continued  till  1776. 
Then  they  were  called  "  in  the  name  of  Massachusetts  and 
the  people,"  or  "  the  government  and  the  people  of  Massa- 
chusetts Bay  in  New  England,"  till  the  adoption  of  the  State 
Constitution,  in  1780,  when  the  present  style  was  adopted, 
"  in  the  name  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts." 

In  March,  17  75,  William  Brakenridge  was  chosen  dele- 
gate to  the  Provincial  Congress.  In  May  of  the  same  year 
"  it  was  voted  to  choose  three  men  to  take  turns  to  attend  the 


HISTORICAL  ADDRESS.  29" 

Congress,  a  free  gratis,  the  district  bearing  their  expense," 
and  it  appears  that  in  October,  that  Wilham  Brakenridge 
was  allowed  £o  6^-  8''-  and  Joseph  Foster  was  allowed  =£3 
Qs-  6d-  Dea.  Thomas  Jenkins  was  the  other  delegate.  In 
1778,  a  frame  of  government,  or  Constiiiition  was  sent  out 
to  the  people,  and  unanimously  rejected.  The  action  of  this 
town  upon  the  Constitution  that  was  sent  out  to  the  people, 
in  1780,  is  a  curious  chapter  in  history,  and  is  worthy  of 
being  copied  entire,  as  an  illustration  of  the  difficulties  our 
fathers  encountered  when  they  undertook  to  set  up  a  govern- 
ment of  their  own. 

"May  17,  1780.  The  meeting  being  opened,  made 
choice  of  Lieut.  Abraham  Cummings  moderator  for  said 
meeting. 

Voted  to  choose  a  committee  of  seven  men  to  consider 
of  the  Constitution,  made  choice  of  Capt.  Wm.  Braken- 
ridge, Deacon  Thomas  Jenkins,  Mr.  Thomas  INIcClintock, 
Lieut.  Abraham  Cummings,  Mr.  Samuel  Dunsmore,  Dea. 
Maverick  Smith,  and  one  Tisdale. 

Voted  to  adjourn  the  meeting  till  Thursday,  the  25lh  inst. 
at  1  o'clock.  Met  and  adjourned  till  Wednesday,  the  31st 
inst.  at  1  o'clock.  Met  according  to  adjournment.  Voted 
not  to  accept  of  the  whole  of  the  Constitution.  Voted  to 
accept  the  sixteenth  article  of  the  Bill  of  rights,  with  this 
amendment: — Where  it  does  not  hurt  the  innocent  frame  of 
government. 

Chap.  1.  Sec.  2.  Art.  1. — Voted  to  take  off  one  third  of 
the  council  and  Senate. 

Sec.  3.  Art.  2. — Voted  that  no  town  shall  send  more 
than  four  Representatives. 

Chap.  2.  Sec.  1.  Art.  2. — Voted  that  the  Governor 
shall  be  of  the  Protestant  religion. 

Art.  13. — Voted  that  Salaries  shall  be  lowered  as  well  as 
raised. 

Chap.  3,  Art.  1. — Voted  that  the  word  Shall,  be  put  in 
instead  of  the  word  May. 

Chap.  6.  Art.  3. — Voted,  that  they  shall  not  increase 
the  qualifications  of  property,  of  persons  to  be  elected  to 
office. 

Thirty-one  persons  voted  to  accept  the  Constitution  with 
the  alteraiions  here  made,  except  one  man  against  the  third 
article  of  the  declaration  of  rights." 

If  the  Constitution  fared  as  hard  in  other  towns,  we  may 
wonder  how  our  government  had  an  existence.     We  must 


30  HISTORICAL  ADDRESS. 

remember,  that  there  was  no  model  in  Europe  or  elsewhere 
that  our  fathers  would  follow;  and  though  some  of  these 
votes  may  seem  to  us  strange,  they  at  least  shew  that  the 
men  of  those  times  thought  for  themselves.  It  shows  also, 
that  some  things  which  have  provoked  much  discussion  with- 
in a  few  years,  especially  with  regard  to  the  lowering  of  sa- 
laries, were  as  well  considered  then. 

This  was  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  when  money 
was  scarce,  and  the  inhabitants  being  poor,  sufiered  great 
hardships.  They  do  not  seem  to  have  been  destitute  of  pat- 
riotism, for  the  lecords  show,  that  they  made  great  efforts 
to  comply  with  the  requisitions  for  men  and  for  supphes. 
"  In  1777,  the  town  voted  to  raise  eight  men  for^the  Conti- 
nental army,  and  to  pay  each  man  twenty  pounds  as  a  boun- 
ty from  the  town.  In  1778,  voted  to  raise  the  clothing  for 
the  soldiers,  to  allow  six  dollars  a  pair  for  shoes,  four  dol- 
lars a  pair  for  stockings,  ten  shillings  a  yard  for  cloth  a  yard 
wide.  Edward  Deinond,  Jr.  to"provide  twenty-one  yards." 
These  prices  were  in  consequence  of  the  depreciation  of  the 
continental  money.  In  1780,  the  town  raised  ^1,000  to 
hire  preaching,  f  1,500  for  town  charges,  £2,000  to  repair 
highways,  at  $20  a  day. 

The  same  year  Mr.  Winslow  Packard  was  invited  to  be- 
come the  niinister,  with  £130  settlement,  £45  salary  "  to  be 
stated  on  the  following  articles.  Wheat,  at  five  shillings  per 
bushel.  Rye,  at  three  shillings  and  four  pence  per  bushel. 
Indian  corn,  at  two  shillings  and  six  pence  per  bushel. 
Pork,  at  three  pence  half  penny  per  pound.  Beef,  at  two 
pence  per  pound.  Sheep's  wool,  at  one  shilling  and  six 
pence  per  pound.  Butter,  at  seven  pence  per  pound.  La- 
bor, at  two  shillings  and  six  pence  per  day  in  hay  time." 
"  It  was  also  voted  to  pay  Capt.  Brakenridge  seven  shillings 
per  week  for  boarding  Mr.  Packard,  the  old  way,  or  eighty 
double  Continental  money."  Deacon  William  Paige  was 
also  allowed  "  seven  shillings  a  week  old  way,  or  seventy- 
two  double  continental." 

Daniel  Gould,  Oliver  Coney,  and  David  Brown,  were 
allowed  for  twelve  days  making  taxes;  eight  dollars  a  day, 
ninety-six  dollars. 

Sept.  1780. — It  was  voted  to  raise  thirteen  thousand  six 
hundred  and  eighty  pounds  to  pay  the  soldiers  that  are  now 
in  service.  Jan.  1781. — Mr.  Davenport  was  allowed 
three  hundred  twenty-eight  pounds  for  preaching,  forty 
pounds  per  day. 


(   UNIVERSHY  \ 


HISTORICAL  ADDRESS.  31 

March,  1781 .  The  poll-tax  was  thirty  pounds  ten  shillings. 
Maverick  Smith,  Daniel  Gould,  and  David  Brown  were  al- 
lowed for  making  taxes  35  days,  at  ^^20  a  day,  two  hundred 
and  ten  pounds. 

At  the  first   election    under   the    Constitution,    Sept.    4, 
1780,  John  Hancock  had  20  voles  for  Governor, 
James  Bowdoin,  1  vote 
Robert  Treat  Paine,    I  vote. 
Azor  One,  had  10  votes  for  Lieut.  Governor. 
Artemas  Ward  had  4  votes. 
Senators — Joseph  Hawley,       14.     Col.  Woodbridge,    18 
John  Bliss,  16.     Lawyer  Strong,  8 

Timothy  Danielson,  6.     Eleazar  Porter,  2 

"  March,  1782.  Voted  to  allow  Daniel  Gould,  and  Tho- 
mas Tut^s  one  pound,  four  shillings,  for  collecting  town 
beef;  allowed  Daniel  Gould  sixteen  shillings  and  six  pence, 
for  keeping  and  driving  town  beef  ;  allowed  Francis  Brak- 
enridge  twelve  shillings,  for  driving  beef  cattle  to  Hampton." 
These  were  supplies  for  the  army. 

In  April,  1786,  James  Bowdoin  for  Gov.  20  votes. 
John  Hancock,  "  1      " 

Thomas  Gushing,  Lieut.  Gov.  IS  votes. 

Senators — Timothy  Danielson,  16.     Oliver  Phelps,        15 
Caleb  Strong,  16.     Wm.  Brakenridge  21 

In  Aug.  1786,  the  Shays  Insurrection  began  to  make 
trouble  in  this  section  of  Massachusetts,  and  a  town  meet- 
ing was  called  on  the  18ih,  to  "see  if  the  town  will  choose  a 
delegate  or  delegates  to  attend  at  a  county  convention  that 
is  appointed  to  be  holden  at  Hatfield  on  Tuesday,  the  22d 
of  x\ug.  inst.  at  10  A.  M.  at  the  house  of  Col.  Seth  Mur- 
ray, to  see  if  a  constitutional  way  of  relief,  or  some  legal 
method  cannot  be  proposed,  for  the  security  and  safety  of 
the  good  people  of  this  commonwealih,  against  the  burdens 
and  distresses  that  prevail  at  the  present  day."  Capt.  Bul- 
len  was  chosen  to  go  to  the  convention.  David  Brown, 
Isaac  Pepper,  and  Daniel  Gould  were  chosen  a  committee 
to  give  directions  to  Capt.  Bullen.  In  Nov.  Isaac  Pepper 
was  chosen  delegate  to  a  convention  at  Hadley,  and  in  Jan. 
1787,  to  another  at  Hatfield. 

In  Jan.  1787,  the  town  voted  the  following  list  of  griev- 
ances, probably  the  same  voted  by  the  convention. 

"  1.   The  fee  table  as  it  now  stands. 


32  HISTORICAL  ADDRESS. 

2.  The  present  appropriation  of  the  impost  and  excise 
money. 

3.  The  unreasonable  grants  made  to  some  of  the  offi- 
cers of  government. 

4.  The  supplementary  code. 

5.  The  present  mode  of  paying  government  securities. 

6.  The  present  mode  of  taxation,  as  it  operates  unequal- 
ly betwixt  the  mercantile  and  landed  interest. 

7.  The  want  of  a  medium  of  trade  to  remedy  the  evil 
arising  from  the  scarcity  of  money. 

8.  The  General  Court,  sitting  in  the  town  of  Boston 

9.  The  suspension  of  the  writ  of  Habeas  Corpus  re- 
pealed. 

10.  The  Riot  Act  repealed. 

11.  Voted  to  have  the  Constitution  revised. 

12.  Voted  to  have  the  C.  C.  Pleas  abolished. 

Voted  to  send  a  petition  to  the  General  Court  for  a  re- 
dress of  grievances,  chose  a  committee  of  five  men  to  make 
a  draft  of  a  Petition,  chose  Isaac  Pepper,  Lieut.  Cummings, 
Mr.  Samuel  Dunsmore,  Capt.  Brakenridge,  and  Mr.  "Wil- 
ham  Paige. 

Voted  to  send  three  men  as  a  committee  to  General  Lin- 
coln and  Capt.  Shays,  to  consult  on  some  measures  for 
peace,  chose  Capt.  Brakenridge,  Mr.  Parker,  and  Moses 
Brown. 

Voted  that  this  town  do  not  allow  of  any  property  being 
brought  and  kept  in  this  town  as  prizes,  except  the  person 
bring  a  receipt,  that  possesses  said  property,  from  the  com- 
mander of  the  department  from  whence  such  properly  is 
brought,  that  they  have  a  right  to  the  same. 

Voted  that  this  town,  as  a  town,  do  not  allow  of  any 
sleighs,  horses  or  persons  being  slopped  on  the  public  roads 
by  any  persons." 

On  the  whole,  the  people  here  appear  to  have  been  more 
patriotic  tharj  many  others. 

Afier  the  disturbances  growing  out  of  the  Shays  war  were 
passed,  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  government  was  requir- 
ed to  be  taken  by  town  officers,  and  for  several  years  it  was 
copied  into  the  records  and  signed,  by  those  of  whom  it  was 
required.     It  will  be  a  curiosity  to  some. 

"  I,  A.  B.,  do  truly  and  sincerely  acknowledge,  profess, 
testify  and  declare,  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  is 
and  of  right  ought   to   be  a  free,  sovereign  and   independent 


HISTORICAL  ADDRESS.  33 

ance  to  the  said  Commonvveallh,  and  that  I  will  defend  the 
same  against  traitorous  conspiracies,  and  all  hostile  attempts 
whatsoever,  and  that  I  do  renounce  and  abjure  all  allegiance 
subjection  and  obedience  to  the  king  or  government  of  Great 
Britain,  (as  the  case  may  be)  and  every  other  foreign  prince 
whatsoever,  and  that  no  foreign  prince,  person,  prelate, 
state  or  potentate,  haih,  or  ought  to  have,  any  jurisdiction, 
superiority,  pre-eminence,  authority,  dispensing,  or  other 
power,  in  any  matter,  civil  ecclesiastical  or  spirimal  within 
this  commonwealth,  except  the  authority  and  power  which  is 
or  may  be  vested  by  their  constituents  in  the  Congress  of 
the  United  Stales,  and  do  further  testify  and  declare,  that 
no  man  or  body  of  men  hath  or  can  have  any  right  to  absolve 
or  discharge  me  from  the  obligation  of  this  oath,  declaration 
or  affirmation,  and  that  I  do  make  this  acknowledgment,  pro- 
fession, testimony,  declaration,  denial,  renunciation  and  ab- 
juration heartily  and  truly,  according  to  the  common  mean- 
ing and  acceptation  of  the  foregoing  words,  without  any 
equivocation,  mental  evasion  or  secret  reservation,  whatso- 
ever.     So  help  me  God." 

In  May  1787,  Mr.  Daniel  Gould  was  chosen  to  repre- 
sent the  town  in  the  Great  and  General  Court.  "Chose  a 
committee  of  five  to  instruct  the  representative,  chose  Capl. 
Brakenridge,  William  Paige,  Deacon  Smith,  William  Snell, 
and  Lieut.  Brown  for  said  committee." 

March  31,  17SS.  "  Voted  to  have  a  Justice  of  Peace 
in  town,  made  choice  of  Mr.  Isaac  Pepper  for  said  Justice. 
Voted  that  the  selectmen  make  a  j'eturn  to  the  Governor 
and  Council  as  soon  as  may  be."  No  conmiission  was  giv- 
en to  him,  nor  does  any  justice  appear  to  have  been  appoint- 
ed until  William  Bowdoin  was  commissioned  in  1801. 

At  the  election  Apr.  178S,  the  votes  for  Governor  were 
for  Elbridge  Gerry  37,  John  Plancock  15. 

About  this  time  it  seems  to  have  been  the  custom  to  warn 
all  new  comers  to  the  town  to  depart,  to  prevent  their  ob- 
taining a  legal  settlement  and  becoming  cliargeable  to  the 
town.  In  March  1765,  the  town  voted  to  allow  William 
Bell  for  warning  out  several  and  carrying  out  some,  twelve 
shillings,  and  to  Abraham  Cummings  for  warning  out  Job 
Smith  one  shilling.  In  1790,  there  is  upon  record  a  war- 
rant duly  served  by  the  Constable,  in  which  he  is  directed  to 
warn  fifty-one  persons,  giving  their  names,  "who  have  come 
into  this  town  for  the  purpose  of  abiding  therein  not  having 
the  town's  consent,  to  depart  the  limits  thereof  with  their 
5 


34  HISTORICAL  ADDRESS. 

children  and  all  under  them,  within  fifteen  days."  Among 
the  names  are  some,  who  afterwards  became  substantial  citi- 
zens, and  whose  children  and  grandchildren  are  now  living 
here  in  as  comfortable  circumstances  as  any  of  us. 

Apr.  7,  1794.  "  Voted  to  choose  a  committee  of  seven 
to  make  a  list  of  those  persons  who  are  subject  to  be  warned 
out  of  town  agreeable  to  the  laws  of  this  commonwealth  and 
to  report  the  same  at  the  next  town  meeting."  This  is  the 
last  record  referring  to  that  custom,  which  was  changed 
about  tl.at  time  by  the  course  of  legislation. 

The  records  of  the  town  show  that  the  people  never  have 
been  rich.  The  support  of  paupers  for  many  years  was  a 
large  part  of  the  business  in  town  meetings.  The  same 
custom  existed  here  as  in  other  places  of  putting  up  the 
poor  at  auction  in  open  town  meeting  to  be  supported  by  the 
lowest  bidder.  Like  some  other  things  we  find  to  disap- 
prove in  the  customs  of  our  fathers,  this  has  gone  out  of 
use.  The  town  has  now  a  farm,  where  a  comfortable  home 
is  provided  for  the  poor. 

Some  extracts  from  the  records  will  show  the  mode  of 
doing  business  in  those  days.  At  every  meeting  from  the 
organization  of  the  Precinct,  it  was  a  standing  vote  that 
"swine   should  run   at  large   with  yokes   and  rings." 

May  1782.  "  Voted  that  Capt.  Brakenridge  as  a  com- 
mittee agree  with  Rev.  IMr.  Tuttle  to  supply  the  pulpit  for 
one  year,  on  condition  that  if  the  town  can  get  a  young  man 
upon  probation,  Mr.  Tuttle  to  give  way." 

Apr.  19.  1757.  "  Voted  to  hire  preaching  for  this  sum- 
mer. Voted  to  raise  upon  the  polls  and  estates,  the  sum  of 
£13  6s.  Sd.  for  preaching  and  boarding  of  ministers  and 
going  after  ministers.  Voted  Joseph  Foster  to  go  after  min- 
isters.    Voted  John  Downing  to  provide  a  Law  Book." 

March  1784.  "  Voted  to  employ  Mr.  Tuttle  one  year 
or  until  a  young  man  can  be  employed  in  the  town." 

March  1735.  The  town  voted  "  to  adopt  Dr.  Watts' 
Psalms  and  Hymns  to  be  sung  in  this  congregation.*  Voted 
that  they  begin  next  Sabbath." 

Previous  to  this,  Tate  and  Brady  or  Sternhold  and  Hopkins 
had  been  used,  and  the  change  was  made  while  Rev.  Jere- 
miah Hallock  was  preaching  here  and  probably  through  his 
influence.     The  chorister  was  chosen  by  the  town,  and  the 

*  The  article  in  the  warrant  was,  "  To  see  if  the  Congregation  will 
concur  with  the  Church  in  adopting  Docter  Watts'  aversion  of  Pslams 
and  Hymns,  to  be  sung  in  public  worship." 


HISTORICAL  ADDRESS.  35 

custom  was  for  the  whole  congregation  to  join  in  singing  the 
deacon  reading  one   line  at  a  time. 

March  1790,  the  record  says,  "  made  choice  of  Dr. 
Rufus  King,  Solomon  Bush,  and  iMr.  George  Brakenridge, 
Queristers,  for  the  year  ensuing.  Voted  that  the  deacon 
read  one  verse  or  more  at  a  tirne  according  as  the  tune  may 
require."     Tliis  was  advancing  one  degree. 

When  the  practice  first  obtained  for  the  singers  to  sit  in 
the  gallery  by  themselves,  it  was  strenuously  opposed. 
Some  would  leave  the  house  rather  than  listen  to  such  pro- 
fane singing. 

Solomon  Howe  came  into  this  town  from  Worcester 
CouHty.  He  is  spoken  of  in  Mr.  Draper's  History  of 
Spencer,  as  "  a  celebrated  teacher  of  music,  and  as  having 
effected  such  a  reform  in  Church  music  in  that  place,  that 
the  singers  were  allowed  to  sit  together,  and  the  front  part  of 
the  gallery  was  appropriated  to  their  use."* 

*  At  this  place  the  speaker  paused,  the  audience  rose  and  sang  in 
the  tune  St.  Martin's,  the  following,  which  was  read  a  line  at  a  time 
by  Deacon  Joseph  Cummings,  the  great  grand  son  of  Deacon  Jacob 
Cummings,  the  first  deacon  of  the  first  Church. 

PSALM  LXXVni. 

Old  Scotch  Version. 

Compare  this  with  Dr.  Watts''  version  of  the  savie  Psalm,  "  Let  chil- 
dren hear  the  mighty  deeds,"  SfC.  and  the  improvement  in  versification 
will  be  apparent. 

1  My  mouth  shall  speak  a  parable, 

and  sayings  dark  of  old  : 
The  same  which  we  have  heard  and  known, 
and  us  our  fathers  told. 

2  We  also  will  not  them  conceal 

from  their  posterity  ; 
Them  to  the  generation 
to  come  declare  will  we  : 

3  The  praises  of  the  Lord  our  God, 

and  his  almighty  strength. 
The  wondrous  works  that  he  hath  done, 
We  will  show  forth  at  length. 

4  His  testimony  and  his  law 

in  Isr'el  he  did  place, 
And  charg'd  our  fathers  it  to  show 
to  their  succeeding  race  ; 

5  That  so  the  race  which  was  to  come 

might  them  well  learn  and  know ; 
And  sons  unborn,  who  should  arise, 
might  to  their  sons  them  show  : 


36  HISTORICAL  ADDRESS. 

6  That  they  might  set  their  hope  in  God, 
and  suffer  not  to  fall 
His  mighty  works  out  of  their  mind  : 
but  keep  his  precepts  all. 

In  1800,  the  meeting  house  was  built  in  the  middle  of  the 
town,  the  frame  of  which  has  been  recently  modeled  into  a 
pleasant  and  commodious  house.  In  April,  1801,  "chose 
Capt.  Wm.  Doane  to  see  that  the  deck  of  the  cupola  is 
corked  and  made  tight,  so  as  to  prevent  the  water  from 
penetrating  through,  and  also  to  finish  glazing  said  cupola  and 
other  panes  of  glass  which  are  broken  in  the  meeting  house, 
and  fasten  the  upper  casements  of  the  windows  so  as  to  pre- 
vent them  from  making  an  interruption  in  time  of  public 
worship." 

"  Nov.  2,  1801 .  Voted,  that  the  front  door  of  the  meet- 
ing house  be  bolted  as  soon  as  the  speaker  hath  entered." 

"  May,  1810.  Voted,  to  raise  fifty  dollars  to  be  appro- 
priated to  the  instruction  of  singers,  and  that  those  who  be- 
long to  Mr.  Burt's  society  receive  their  proportion  of  said 
fifty  dollars." 

In  Sept.  1807.  "  Voted  that  there  may  be  a  Bell  plac- 
ed upon  the  deck  of  the  cupola  in  this  town,  upon  some 
conditions." 

"  Voted  not  to  choose  a  committee  to  receive  subscrip- 
tions. Voted  that  Isaac  Pepper,  Rufus  King,  Benjamin 
Paige,  Ebenezer  Titus,  Benjamin  Davis,  Nathaniel  R.  An- 
dpfson,  Gould  Parsons,  Isaac  Pepper,  Jr.,  Samuel  Conkey, 
William  Paige,  Jr..  Thomas  Patrick,  and  Waters  Allen, 
together  with  such  as  shall  hereafter  become  subscribers, 
have  liberty  to  hang  a  bell  upon  the  deck  of  the  cupola  in 
this  town,  provided  the  bell  be  purchased  and  hung  upon 
said  deck  free  from  any  cost  or  expense  upon  said  town 
either  by  lax  or  otherwise.". 

The  reason  of  this  extreme  caution  was,  that  Isaac  Pep- 
per, who  headed  the  movement,  had  sometimes  led  the  town 
into  awkward  predicaments,  and  in  a  measure  lost  their  con- 
fidence. When  the  n)eeting  house  was  built  in  1800,  he 
with  others  procured  liberty  of  the  town  to  erect  a  cupola 
upon  it,  a  subscription  was  raised,  the  fiame  put  up  and  fas- 
tened to  the  house,  and  ihe  town  (old  they  were  at  liberty  to 
finish  it  or  not  as  they  chose.  This  was  called  "  a  right 
Pepper  Irick,^^  an  expression  not  entirely  gone  out  of  use 
yet. 

No  bell  was  placed  upon  the  church  until  after  Mr.  Reed's 
settlement  in  1826. 


HISTORICAL  ADDRESS.  37 

Dec.  15,  1828.  "  Voted  to  give  leave  to  have  stoves 
erected  in  the  meeting  house  in  the  centre  of  the  town,  if  it 
be  done  without  expense  to  tlie  town." 

After  the  factories  were  buih,  an  attempt  was  made  to 
change  the  name  of  the  town.  In  Jan.  1825,  "  Voted  lo 
petition  lo  have  the  name  of  the  town  changed  to  Water- 
ford."  It  does  not  seem  to  have  been  prosecuted.  In 
May,  1327,  "  Voted  to  raise  a  committee  of  five  to  peti- 
tion the  LegishUure  to  survey  a  Rail  Road  from  Boston  to 
the  Hudson  River  in  the  stale  of  New  York.  Chose  Aiphe- 
us  Demond,  Homer  Bartlett,  William  Bowdoin,  Thomas 
Snell,  and  Benjamin  Paige."  About  this  time  there  was 
some  difficulty  between  the  village  and  the  old  parish.  An 
attempt  was  made  by  the  village  to  be  incorporated  as  a 
town,  which  was  opposed.  x\.t  the  election  of  Representa- 
tive in  1828,  the  closest  contest  was  had  that  ever  existed 
here,  which  seems  to  have  been  hinged  upon  this  controver- 
sy. Aaron  Gould  had  170  voles,  Foster  Marsh,  170, 
Joseph  Cummings  1.  Whereupon  the  town  voted  not  to 
send  that  year.  The  matter  was  adjusted  by  defining  the 
the  lines  between  the  parishes,  and  the  Village  was  incorpo- 
rated as  the  East  Congregational  Society.  The  parish  lines 
began  at  Samuel  Gould's  south-east  corner,  by  Palmer  line, 
and  on  his  line  to  Ware  River,  ihence  up  the  river  to  Mud- 
dy Brook,  up  Muddy  Brook  to  the  old  road  to  New  Brain- 
tree,  north  of  J.  Hartwell's  farm,  thence  on  that  road  to 
the  turn  east  of  Nathan  Coney's,  thence  to  Darius  Eaton's 
north  line,  and  on  that  to  Brookfield. 

The  alteration  of  the  Constitution,  making  the  support  of 
religion  a  voluntary  thing,  ia  1833,  rendered  parish  lines  of 
no  value. 

SCHOOLS. 

The  first  action  of  the  town  upon  the  subject  of  schools 
as  appears  by  the  records  was  in  Jan'y.  1757,  when  it  was 
"  Voted  to  Devid  ye  Peraish  into  two  parts  for  a  scool,  and 
flat  Brook  to  be  ye  deviding  Line." 

"  Voted  Joseph  Scott  to  take  care  of  the  West  part. 
Voted  William  Brackenridge  to  take  care  of  the  East  Part. 

At  this  time  no  money  was  raised  for  schools,  nor  does 
any  appear  to  have  been  raised  for  any  other  purpose  tiian 
for  preaching  until  after  the  incorporation  of  the  town  in 


38  HISTORICAL  ADDRESS. 

1762.  At  the  first  town  meeting  it  was  voted  to  divide  the 
town  into  four  quarters,  by  a  line  running  East  and  West 
by  the  meeting  house,  and  by  flat  brook.  North  and  South. 
"  Voted  to  Raies  twelve  pounds  for  Skoling.  Voted  that 
Eatch  Quarter  shall  Skool  out  there  part  within  the  year  or 
be  forfit."  The  same  sum  was  granted  the  next  year.  In 
1771,  only  four  pounds  were  raised.  In  1772  it  was  raised 
to  fourteen  pounds.  In  1774  fifteen  pounds  were  granted. 
For  several  years  no  money  was  raised  for  schools.  The 
town  meetings  were  occupied  mostly  in  providing  soldiers 
for  the  Revolutionary  army,  and  in  paying  them  and  provid- 
ing for  their  families. 

In  1782  twenty  pounds  were  raised  for  schools,  the  dis- 
tricts to  remain  as  formerly.  In  1785  it  was  voted  to  divide 
the  town  into  six  districts,  and  determined  where  the  school 
houses  should  be  located.  No  provision  for  houses  seems 
to  have  been  made  before.  The  same  year  thirty  pounds 
were  raised  for  schools.  In  1787,  thirty-six  pounds  were 
raised  to  build  school  houses.  In  1791,  twelve  pounds 
were  raised  to  build  a  school  house  in  the  middle  of  the 
town. 

In  1794,  forty-eight  pounds  were  granted  for  schools. 
This  was  during  the  ministry  of  the  Rev.  Reuben  Moss  wlw 
did  much  to  raise  the  character  of  the  schools,  as  well  as  the 
tone  of  morals  and  public  sentiment.  For  nearly  twenty 
years  it  is  thought  by  some,  not  a  teacher  was  employed  from 
out  of  town,  while  all  the  neighbouring  towns  sought  teach- 
ers here.  Hon.  Joseph  Cummings  taught  seven  winters  in 
New  Braintree,  receiving  f  20  per  month,  being  much  more 
than  was  usually  paid  in  those  times. 

In  1797,  the  town  voted  to  divide  the  school  money  into 
eight  p.irts,  ten  pounds  to  each  district.  Eighty  pounds,  or 
$266,67.  In  1805,  $320.  In  1814,  $400.  In  1825, 
$600.  In  1830,  $790.  In  1835,  $800.  In  1836,  $1000. 
In  1840,  $1250.  Since  which  time  $1100  has  been  grant- 
ed. The  town  has  been  for  many  years  divided  into  ten 
districts.  At  the  present  time  more  than  half  of  the  scho- 
lars are  in  the  first  or  village  District. 

The  town  has  now  the  number  of  families  required  by 
law  to  support  a  grammar  school,  and  the  provision  of  a 
room  in  this  house,  for  such  a  school,  is  an  indication  of 
better  days  for  the  education  of  our  youth.  No  school  ha? 
ever  been  maintained  for  any  length  of  time,  of  a  higher 
grade  than  our  district  schools,  and  our  town  the  last  year 
stood  as  low  as  207,  among  the  308  towns  in  the   Stale  in 


HISTORICAL  ADDRESS.  39 

its  provision   for  schools.    This  year  $1600  has  been  grant- 
ed for  schools. 

We  have  not  furnished  a  large  number  of  students  for 
the  Colleges.  A'few  however  have  sprung  up  here,  that  have 
pushed  their  way  through  College,  gained  credit  to  them- 
selves and  to  their  native  town. 

The  first  one  that  studied  a  profession  was  the  Hon. 
William  Bowdoin,  a  son  of  William  Bowdoin,  Esq.  He 
did  not  go  to  College,  but  read  law  with  the  Hon.  Samuel 
Fowler  Dickinson  of  Amherst,  and  for  thirty  years,  has 
practised  law  at  South  Hadley.  The  Honorary  degree  of 
A.  M.  was  conferred  upon  him  at  Williams  College  in  1S32. 
He  has  represented  this  county  in  the  State  Senate  for 
two  years— 1840  and  184 1. 

Emerson  Davis,  son  of  Dea.  Enos  Davis,  was  graduated 
at  Williams*  College,  1821.  He  is  now  settled  as  minister 
of  Westfield. 

John  Dunbar,  son  of  John  Dunbar,  was  graduated  at 
Williams'  College,  1832.  He  is  now  a  missionary  among 
the  Pawnee  Indians. 

Isaac  Wethrell,  son  of  Thomas  Wethrell,  graduated  at 
Amherst  College,  in  1832.  He  is  now  teaching  in  Ban- 
gor, Me. 

William  Paige  Davis,  son  of  Benjamin  Davis,  was  grad- 
uated at  Union  College,  1823.  He  is  now  settled  as  min- 
ister  in  Princeton,  N.  \. 

Joshua  Pearl,  son  of  John  ]M.  Pearl,  was  graduated  at 
Yale  College,  1836.  He  is  now  Principal  of  the  Natchez 
Institute  in  Mississippi. 

Porter  Snow,  son  of  Dea.  Eli  Snow,  was  in  Amherst 
College,  in  the  class  graduated  in  1837,  left  before  grad- 
uating, and  is  now  a  minister  in  Baltimore,  Md. 

Loranus  Crowell,  son  of  Joshua  Crowell,  graduated  at 
the  Wesleyan  University,  Middletown,  Ct.,  in  1840,  is  a 
Methodist  minister,  now  stationed  in  Cabotville. 

Thomas  Snell  Norton,  son  of  Allen  Norton,  was  grad- 
uated at  Amherst  College,  1840.  He  is  now  settled  as 
minister  in  Sullivan,  N.  H. 

William  Snell,  son  of  Thomas  Snell,  at  Amherst,  1840. 
Ebenezer  Snell  his   brother,  was  in  the   same   class,  but 
died  just  before  he  completed  the  course. 

Loring  B.  Marsh,  son  of  Foster  Marsh,  at  Yale  College, 
in  1840,  now  a  Home  Missionary  in  Iowa. 

Samuel  H.  Allen,  son  of  Chester  Allen,  was  graduated 
at  Amherst,  1841,  now  minister  at  Windsor  Locks,  Ct. 


40  HISTORICAL  ADDRESS. 

Aaron  Walker,  son  of  Aaron  Walker,  at  Amherst. 
1841..     He  is  now  a  teacher  in  Charlestown. 

David  Gould  Sherman,  son  of  Thomas  Sherman,  grad- 
uated at  Yale  College,  1S4J.  Teacher  in  Natchez  Insti- 
tute,  Miss. 

Daniel  Lyman  Shearer,  son  of  John  Shearer,  graduated 
at  Yale  College,  1S42,  now  in  business  in  Boston. 

John  Hartwell,  son  of  Joseph  Ilartwell,  at  Amherst, 
1843,  now  a  physician  in  Boston. 

Samuel  Dexter  Marsh,  son  of  Foster  Marsh,  at  Yale 
College,  1844, — expects  soon  to  join  the  South  African 
Mission. 

Charles  Demond,  son  of  Alpheus  Demond,  Esq.,  at  Wil- 
liams College,  1844.     He  is  now  reading  law. 

These  are  not  all  natives  of  the  town,  but  went  from  here 
to  College. 

At  the  present  time  I  am  not  aware  that  we  have  a  single 
student  in  any  of  the  colleges. 


ROADS.. 

No  roads  appear  to  have  been  laid  out  previous  to  the  in- 
corporation of  the  town.  The  inhabitants  made  use  of  such 
as  nature  had  provided,  with  very  small  improvements.  It 
appears  that  the  road  from  Brookfield  to  Hadley  pas?ed 
through  this  town.  It  passed  over  the  summit  of  Coy's  hill, 
(a  high  ridge  between  this  town  and  Brookfield  and  Warren,) 
down  by  the  Coneys,  and  crossed  the  river  at  the  old  bridge 
place,  nearly  a  mile  above  the  village,  passing  down  the 
west  side  of  the  pond  near  the  village,  crossing  Muddy 
Brook  at  the  present  bridge  between  the  parishes,  then  by 
the  old  Downing  place,  on  Dr.  Goodrich's  land,  and  nearly 
by  the  present  road  to  the  Swift  River  bridge,  near  Samuel 
Lemmon's.  This  was  probably  used  in  1660,  when  the 
first  settlements  were  made  at  Brookfield. 

The  first  bridge  across  the  river  in  the  village  was  nearly 
opposite  the  large  stone  factory.  Tinjbers  were  laid  across 
the  rocks  near  the  new  grist  mill  for  foot  passengers,  but  no 
permanent  bridge  was  erected  there  until  after  the  factories 
were  built.     At  that  time,  the  only  road   to   Brookfield  was 


HISTORICAL  ADDRESS.  41 

over  the  Coney  hill.  It  cost  twenty  dollars  per  ton  for  trans- 
portation of  goods  from  Boston,  and  it  was  a  hard  week's 
work,  for  a  lefiin  to  go  and  return. 

The  road  from  Swift  River  to  New  Braintree  was  the 
important  road,  passing  through  the  centre  of  the  town  and 
over  the  hill,  by  the  old  Durant  place,  crossing  Muddy 
Brook,  at  the  bridge  now  used  between  the  parishes,  and 
passing  north  of  Capt.  Hartvvell's  farm.  A  considerable 
portion  of  it  has  been  discontinued. 

When  stages  first  passed  through  Ware  from  Brookfield 
to  Northampton,  they  passed  along  the  southern  border  of 
the  town,  crossing  the  river  near  Gideon  Lamberton's.  It 
was  upon  this  road  Dr.  Dwight  passed  through  a  corner  of 
the  town  in  1810,  when  he  wrote  the  following  notice: 
"  Ware  borders  on  Belchertown  south-eastward.  Its  soil 
is  generally  of  a  very  inferior  quality.  A  traveller  formerly 
passing  through  this  town  observed,  that  he  thought  the 
land  was  like  self-righteousness;  for  the  more  he  had  of  it, 
the  poorer  he  would  be." 

The  first  Post-Office  was  established  in  1815,  at  the 
house  now  occupied  by  Samuel  M.  Lemmon.  Timothy 
Babcock  was  appointed  Post-master.  In  1824,  the  office 
was  removed  to  the  Village,  and  Joseph  Cummings  appoint- 
ed. He  was  succeeded  by  Joel  Rice  in  1832.  In  1840, 
Lewis  Babcock  was  appointed.  He  was  succeeded  by  An- 
sel Phelps,  Jr.  in  1843.  The  present  incumbent,  Addison 
Sandford   was   appointed  in  1845. 

The  gross  receipts  of  the  office  for  the  first  quarter  after 
it  was  established  in  the  village  in  1824,  were  $44,41.  The 
receipts  for  the  quarter  ending  March  31,  1847,  were 
$362,07. 


THE  POPULATION  OF  THE  TOWN  AT  DIFFERENT 
DATES. 


In  1790  . 

.   773 

1830  . 

.  2045 

"  1800  . 

.   997 

1837  . 

.  2403 

"  1810  . 

.   996 

1840  . 

.  1890 

"  1820  . 

,  1154 

The  last  census  was  taken  at  a  period  of  great  depression 
in  manufactures, — when  most  of  the  mills  were  still.     The 
population  is  supposed  now  to  be  3000. 
6 


4S  HISTOEICAL  ADDRESS, 


MANUFACTURES 


The  excellent  water  power  in  this  town  caused  it  to  be 
settled  earlier  perhaps,  than  the  quality  of  the  soil  would 
have  done.  The  Ware  River  originates  in  the  western  part 
of  Worcester  County,  draining  most  of  the  country  west  of 
the  Wachusett,  and  is  supplied  partly  frou)  ponds,  which, 
with  the  great  extent  of  open  country  drained  by  it,  gives  it 
a  character  of  stability  not  gained  by  mountain  streams.* 
It  enters  Ware  at  the  north-east  corner,  and  goes  out  near 
the  South-west,  keeping  near  the  Eastern  and  Southern 
boundary.  It  receives  three  considerable  tributaries  here, 
which  traverse  the  town  from  Hardvvick  and  Enfield  on  the 
north.  Flat  Brook,  very  near  the  middle  of  the  town.  Muddy 
Brook,  on  the  East,  and  Beaver  Brook  on  the  West,  divide 
the  town  into  four  nearly  equal  parts. 

The  falls  at  the  village  afford  a  fine  power,  the  river  fall- 
ing more  than  seventy  feet  in  less  than  that  number  of  rods. 
On  these  falls  mills  were  erected  by  Capt.  Jabez  Olmstead 
probably  as  early  as  1730,  or  soon  after.  His  heirs  sold 
the  property  to  Isaac  IVIagoon;  from  him  it  passed  to  his 
son  Alexander  in  1765.  At  this  time  a  grist  mill  and  saw  mill 
stood  here  which  were  extensively  known  as  Magoon's  mills. 

In  April  1813,  the  mills  with  about  400  acres  of  the 
Olmstead  tract,  covering  the  whole  territory  of  the  village 
and  West  to  Muddy  Brook,  was  sold  by  James  Magoon, 
a  grandson  of  Alexander,  to  Alpheus  Demond,  Esq.,  and 
Col.  Thomas  Denny  for  $4,500.  Mr.  Demond  came  here 
the  same  year,  rebuilt  the  dam  now  standing  on  the  middle 
falls,  repaired  the  saw  mill  and  grist  mill,  and  started  two 
carding  machines.  The  house  now  occupied  by  John  Gil- 
more  and  the  store  of  J.  Hartwell  were  built  the  same  year. 

In    1814,  he   built    the  old   tavern  house,  the  old  yellow 

*  The  Indian  name  of  the  River,  "  Nenameseck,"  probably  means 
a  Fishing  Basket,  or  a  place  where  fish  were  taken  in  Baskets,  being 
compoundedof  "  Namohs,"  a  fish,  and  "  Manseck,"  a  basket.  The 
Falls  were  a  great  resort  for  fishing,  by  the  Indians, — who  used  bas- 
kets or  traps  in  taking  salmon,  which  formerly  abounded  here,  and 
have  been  taken  by  some  of  the  present  generation.  Indian  names 
are  usually  significant.  The  "  Connecticut,"  is  the  Long  River, — the 
"  Housatonic,"  the  river  over,  or  beyond  the  Mountain." 


HISTORICAL  ADDRESS.  43 

barn  which  then  stood  near  where  the  Post  Office  now  is, 
and  the  old  cotton  mill,  still  standing.  He  also  commenced 
building  machinery.  Col.  Denny  died  at  Leicester,  in  Dec. 
IS  14.  The  same  month  the  treaty  of  peace  was  signed  at 
Ghent.  These  two  events  threw  a  dark  cloud  over  the 
prospects  for  manufacturing  here,  as  the  latter  did  through 
the  country.  At  that  time  no  factories  existed  in  this  part 
of  the  state,  except  a  small  one  at  Worcester  and  one  at 
Monson.  The  power  loom  was  not  then  known,  and  the 
design  was  to  make  yarn  to  be  put  out  to  be  wove  in  the 
hand  looms. 

The  factory  stood  still  till  April  1821,  when  the  property 
was  sold  to  Holbrook  and  Dexter,  of  Boston,  including  mill, 
machinery,  and  land,  for  about  $15,000,  at  a  loss  to  the  for- 
mer owners  of  about  Si  2,000.  These  gentlemen  soon  form- 
ed a  company  of  Boston  capitalists,  including  the  Dexters  and 
Amorys,  the  Greens  and  Tappans,  and  went  on  to  complete 
the  mill.  In  1S23,  the  brick  store  and  the  woolen  mill,  about 
half  its  present  size,  were  built.  In  1824  the  large  mill  was 
built  to  take  the  water  from  the  upper  fall.  This  was  27  I  feet 
long,  and  but  one  story  high  above  the  basement,  with  an  at- 
tic. To  prepare  the  foundation,  canal,  wheel-pits  and  race- 
ways, was  an  expensive  undertaking,  much  of  it  being  rock 
excavation.  The  plans  were  on  a  large  scale,  but  proved 
ill-judged.  The  capital  of  the  Wave  Co.  was  $600,000, 
incorporated   in  1S23.     It  never  made  a  dividend. 

In  IS29,  the  property  was  transferred  to  the  Hampshire 
Mfg.  Co.  at  a  nominal  value  of  $300,000.  To  this  $100- 
000  was  afterwards  added.  In  the  general  wreck  in  1837, 
the  Hampshire  Co.  failed;  an  actual  dividend  never  having 
been  made  to  the  stockholders  either  from  the  earnings  or 
the  capital. 

In  Aug.  1839,  the  cotton  mills  passed  into  the  hands  of 
the  Otis  Co.  In  June  1845,  the  long  mill,  built  in  1824, 
was  destroyed  by  fire.  The  Otis  Co.  had  already  com- 
menced the  erection  of  a  stone  mill  200  feet  long,  five  sto- 
ries high,  and  immediately  rebuilt  one  upon  the  site  of  the 
one  burned,  of  the  same  dimensions  of  the  stone  mill. 
These  are  now  nearly  in  full  operation,  which  with  the  old 
cotton  mill  and  the  small  one  near  it,  have  GOO  looms,  with 
nearly  20,000  spindles,  and  will  consume  about  1,000,000 
lbs.  of  cotton  annually',  and  give  employment  to  about  650 
hands.  The  Otis  Co.  has  shared  fully  in  the  success  that 
has  attended  manufacturers  for  the  few  past  years.     Its  cap- 


44  HISTORICAL  ADDRESS. 

ital  is  $350,000.  The  mills  erected  during  the  last  two 
years,  one  of  brick,  the  other  of  dark  granile,  are  not  ex- 
ceeded in  beauty  or  convenience  of  arrangements. 

In  1841,  Messrs.  Gilbert  &  Stevens  came  from  Andover 
and  purchased  of  the  assignees  of  the  Hampshire  Co.,  the 
woolen  mill  and  other  property  on  the  South  side  of  the 
river.  This  mill  had  been  enlarged  to  its  present  size  by 
the  Hampshire  Co.,  and  furnished  by  them  with  seven  sets 
of  new  machinery  in  1836.  The  mill  was  still  most  of  the 
time  after  1837,  till  Oct.  1841,  when  it  was  started  by  the 
present  proprietors.  In  the  summer  of  1846,  they  erected 
a  new  stone  mill,  five  stories  high  80  feet  by  50,  with  four 
sets  of  machinery  on  a  fall  below  what  had  before  been  oc- 
cupied. Their  mills  will  consume  about  300,000  pounds  of 
Wool  annually,  and  employ  about  200  hands.  The  enter- 
prise and  skill  of  these  gentlemen  well  deserve  the  success 
which  has  attended  ihetn. 

The  Hampshire  Manufacturers'  Bank  was  incorporated  in 
1825,  with  a  capital  of  $100,000.  In  1836  its  capital  was 
increased  to  $150,000. 


TEMPERANCE. 

The  great  change  which  the  habits]  of  the  people  have 
undergone  within  a  few  years  on  this  subject,  seems  to  jus- 
tify a  particular  notice,  confining  "myself  pretty  closely  to 
the  records. 

May  9,  1768.     "  Voted  to   raise  two  pounds   to  pro- 
vide  Rumb  for  the  raising  the    Bridge  over  Ware   river." 

March  1784,  "  Voted  to  pay  James  Lemmon  for  six  jour- 
neys to  Belchertown  and  two  quarts  of  Rum,  thirteen  shil- 
lings and  six  pence." 

In  1787,] (Shays'  War  times),  a  grievous  difficulty  arose 
with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Judd,  the  minister.  The  vote  for  dis- 
missing him  was  63  to  13.  The  matter  was  referred  to  an 
ecclesiastical  council,  and  the  town  voted  to  join  with  the 
church  in  paying  the  cost.  "  Voted  Aug.  27th  to  allow  Wil- 
liam Paige  for  sundry  articles,  viz.,  ninepence  a  meal  for 
169  meals;  two  pence  a  lodging  for  85  lodgings;  for  keep- 
ing 61  horses  twenty-four  hours,  four  pence  per  horse." 


HISTORICAL  ADDRESS.  45 

"  Voted  to  allow  three  shillings  and  sixpence  per  gallon 
for  four  gallons  of  rum." 

Again,  Oct.  22,  "  Voted  to  allow  William  Paige  for 
keeping  the  Ecclesiastical  Council,  which  is  as  follows,  viz., 
seven  pence  per  meal  212  meals,  two  pence  a  lodging  68 
lodgings,  four  pence  for  keeping  a  horse  24  hours  76  horses, 
four  gallons  and  a  half  of  new  rum,  three  shillings  per  gallon, 
two  gallons  of  old  rum,  five  shillings  per  gallon."  This 
seems  to  have  been  the  second  council  when  they  drank  bet- 
ter rum  and  more  of  it. 

"  Nov.  2,  1801.  Voted  that  the  selectmen  give  a  gen- 
eral invitation  to  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Ware, 
to  work  on  the  road  one  or  more  days,  leading  from  Swift 
River  to  the  line  of  New  Braintree/ree  gratis,  said  select- 
men to   find   them   what  spirits  they  shall  think  necessary." 

These  records  will  seem  more  strange  to  future  genera- 
lions,  we  hope,  than  they  do  to  us.  We  are  yet  in  a  tran- 
sition state,  and   can   look  back  to   strange  times. 

At  the  time  the  factory  operations  commenced  here,  in 
1823,  1824,  and  1825,  the  use  of  intoxicating  drinks  had 
reached  a  point  probably  never  known  before  or  since.  Then 
all  used  them  with  scarce  an  exception.  The  labourers  in 
the  shops,  on  the  buildings,  at  the  dam  and  canal  had  eve- 
ry man  his  bottle.  It  was  nothing  uncommon  to  draw  a 
hogshead  of  rum,  and  sometimes  two,  daily,  at  the  factory 
Store;  not  all  for  our  inhabitants,  for  large  quantities  went 
north  in  exchange  for  lumber  and  other  materials  brought  in. 

In  1826,  the  temperance  reform  began,  and  was  early  en- 
gaged in  by  the  ministers,  agents  and  principal  men  of  the 
place.  In  1833,  the  election  of  representatives  turned  up- 
on this  question,  and  though  the  candidates  of  the  tempe- 
rance men  were  defeated,  they  proposed  and  carried  the  fol- 
lowing resolutions: 

"  Nov.  11th,  1833.  ]\[oved  that  we  instruct  our  Repre- 
sentatives to  use  their  influence  to  obtain  a  revision  of  the 
License  Laws  in  such  a  manner  as  to  promote  the  great 
moral  reform  now  going  on  through  the  agency  of  temper- 
ance Societies. 

1.  Resolved  that  our  Representatives  use  their  influence 
for  such  a  modification  of  the  License  Laws,  as  shall  make 
it  penal  for  any  one  to  sell  ardent  spirits  to  the  town  inhabi- 
tants on  the  sabbath. 

2.  That  they  use  their  influence  for  the  alteration  of  said 
License  Laws  in  such  a  manner  as  to  keep  pace  with  public 


46  HISTORICAL  ADDRESS. 

opinion  in  relation  to  the  retailing  of  ardent  spirits,  and  that 
when  a  majority  of  the  Inhabitants  of  any  town  in  tiiis  corn- 
raonwealih  shall  vote  in  legal  town  meeting  that  no  retailer 
in  said  town  is  necessary,  oilier  than  for  medical  purposes, 
such  vote  to  be  a  bar  to  such  license  within  said  town." 
<■'  Mar.  2,  1835,  Resolved: — 

1.  As  the  sense  of  this  meeting,  that  no  retailer  of  ar- 
dent spirits  is  necessary  in  this  town  the  present  year,  and 
ought  not  to  be  licensed;  carried  157  to  40. 

2.  Resolved,  that  the  sense  of  this  meeting  be  obtained 
whether  Inn-holders  to  sell  ardent  spirits  in  this  town  are 
necessary,  if  so,  how  many. 

Voted  that  it  is  inexpedient  to  have  any  Inn-holders  to 
sell  ardent  spirits  in  this  town  the  present  year." 

"  March,  1S36.  Voied  that  the  selectmen  be  instructed 
not  to  approbate  any  person  to  retail  any  spirits  or  intoxi- 
cating liquors  the  present  year."  Since  which  time  with  the 
exception  of  one  single  year,  no  one  has  received  an  appro- 
bation from  the  selectmen  to  sell  intoxicating  drinks  in  this 
town. 


THE  FIRST  SETTLERS. 

Some  brief  notices  of  the  early  settlers,  will  close  what 
I  propose  to  offer,  and  these  must  necessarily  be  imperfect. 
I  have  not  the  advantage  of  being  a  native  of  the  town,  nor 
of  a  long  residence,  but  have  availed  myself  of  such  means 
as  were  within  my  reach.  The  evidence  of  living  witnes- 
ses, the  records  of  the  town  and  church,  ancient  deeds  and 
papers,  and  the  tomb-stones  of  the  dead,  have  furnished 
the  materials  from  which  I  have  gleaned. 

Capt.  Jabez  Olmstead  is  supposed  to  have  come  from 
Brookfield,  and  to  have  made  the  first  permanent  settlement 
here  in  1729.  Of  his  former  history,  I  can  learn  but  little. 
He  must  have  been  a  man  of  property,  as  he  paid  £400 
for  the  tract  he  purchased  here,  as  appears  by  the  deed. 
He  is  described  as  ''  of  Brookfield,  in  the  county  of  Hamp- 
shire." When  that  town  was  incorporated,  in  1718,  it  was 
"  agreed  the  said  town  to  lye  to  the  county  of  Hampshire," 
where  it  continued  to  belong,  till  Worcester  county  was  es- 
tablished, in  1731.     Tradition  represents  Capt.  Olmstead 


HISTORICAL  ADDRESS.  47 

to  have  been  a  man  of  great  shrewdness  and  energy,  and 
that  Indian  blood  ran  in  his  veins.  He  was  a  mighty  hun- 
ter, and  is  said  to  have  been  an  officer  in  the  expedition 
against  Louishourg,  upon  the  island  of  Cape  Breton,  in 
1745.  The  following  anecdote  is  related  of  him.  On  the 
return  of  the  army  to  Boston  from  Louisbourg,  he  was  in- 
vited with  the  officers  to  dine  with  Gov.  Shirley.  The  pud- 
ding he  found  to  be  too  hot;  and  taking  it  fron)  his  mouth, 
and  laying  it  upon  the  side  of  his  plate,  he  said  he  would 
keep  it  to  light  his  pipe  with. 

He  had  two  sons,  Jsrael  and  Jeremiah.  To  the  oldest, 
100  acres  of  the  Elbow  tract  was  granted,  adjoining  his  farm. 
Tliey  both  married  and  had  children,  of  whom  1  have  no 
further  knowledge.  He  had  one  daughter,  Hannah,  who 
married  Judah  Marsh.  He  does  not  appear  to  have  taken 
a  very  active  part  in  town  affairs. 

John  Post,  the  first  Precinct  clerk,  was  a  relative  of  01m- 
stead,  and  lived  upon  the  farm  now  owned  by  Joseph  Hart- 
well,  which  was  part  of  Olrnstead's  purchase.  His  wife's 
death  is  recorded  here  March  20,  1745. 

Isaac  Magoon  came  from  Ireland  with  the  colony  that 
settled  in  Palmer  in  1727.  The  farm  allotted  to  him  by  the 
commiitee  of  the  Legislaturt^,  was  at  the  South  East  cor- 
ner of  the  Read  Manor.  He  built  where  Haskell  Cum- 
mings  now  lives.  Isaac  Jr.  lived  where  Josephus  Laiuber- 
ton  now  lives.  They  owned  a  large  tract,  about  700  acres 
in  the  strip  of  land  between  the  south  Hue  of  the  manor  and 
the  south  line  of  the  town.  Isaac  Magoon  Jr.  afterwards 
bought  of  Capt.  Olrnstead's  heirs,  the  mills  and  the  tract  of 
land  m  the  village,  about  600  acres.  He  had  two  sons, 
Alexander,  who  lived  at  the  mills,  and  Isaac,  who  lived 
where  Haskell  Cummings  now  lives.  Isaac  married  Lu- 
creiia,  daughter  of  John  Downing,  and  had  thirteen  chil- 
dren. One  son,  Dr.  Isaac  Magoon,  is  now  living  in  Mich- 
igan. One  daughter,  Mrs.  Eliphalet  Marsh  is  now  living 
here.  Allen  Grover's  first  wife  was  another  daughter.  Al- 
exander had  two  sons,  Isaac,  who  died  on  the  Red  River, 
Sept.  1808,  and  Alexander,  who  died  in  Salem,  N.  York. 
Isaac's  son  James  married  JMehitabel  Ellis,  a  daughter  of 
Ebenezer  Gould,  in  1810,  and  is  now  living  in  Illinois. 
Isaac  lives  in  Bloomington,  Iowa.  Mrs.  Marsh  and  her  chil- 
dren, Chester  and  Diadaina,  are  the  only  descendants  left  in 
town,  of  a  family  as  numerous  as  any  other  here  probably,  one 
hundred  years  ago,  and  possessing  about  1,400  acres  of  the 
best  land  in  the  town. 


48  HISTORICAL  ADDRESS. 

Jacob  Cummings  came  from  Killingly,  Ct.  soon  after  the 
first  settlements  were  made,  and  was  tlie  most  prominent 
man  in  the  Precinct  and  town  for  many  years.  He  was 
one  of  the  first  deacons  in  the  church,  acted  as  moderator 
of  the  first  meeting  of  the  Parish,  was  one  of  the  Precinct 
Corntnitiee,  and  when  the  town  was  incorporated  in  1762, 
one  of  the  first  board  of  selectmen,  and  town  treasurer. 
He  bought,  probably  of  Stewart  Southgate,  the  farm  now 
owned  by  Joel  Rice,  Esq.,  and  the  one  owned  by  his  great- 
grand-son,  the  Hon.  Joseph  Cummings.  He  had  five  sons, 
Jacob,  Benjamin,  Abraham,  Isaac  and  Solomon.  Jacob 
had  no  sons  that  lived  to  have  a  family.  Abraham's  daugh- 
ter Hannah  married  Thomas  McClintock,  the  father  of 
Benjamin  and  Levans  Mc  Clintock.  Jerusha,  another  daugh- 
ter, married   Thomas  Bacon,  in  1780. 

Benjamin  had  three  sons,  Daniel,  Simeon  and  Joseph. 
Daniel  died  young.  Simeon  had  two  sons,  Simeon  and 
Nichols,  the  latter  went  into  the  State  of  N.  York.  Sime- 
on had  four  sons  and  one  daughter,  now  living  here,  Lewis 
G.,  William,  Simeon  and  Nichols,  and  the  wife  of  Dfjniel 
Dunbar,  2nd. 

Joseph  married  Temperance  Nye  in  1775,  had  seven 
sons  and  four  daughters.  One  son  died  young.  Benjamin 
now  hves  in  North  Brookfield.  Simeon  died  in  this  town. 
Hon.  Joseph  and  Haskell  now  live  here,  Braddish  in  Illi- 
nois, and  Estes  in  New  Haven.  Jacob  Cummings  died 
Feb.  27,  1776,  aged  S3.  His  posterity  of  the  sixth  gene- 
ration are  present  with  us  to-day,  inheriting  the  possessions 
with  the  blessing  of  a  pious  ancestor.  Benjamin  his  son, 
died  Dec.  14,  1805,  aged  87.  Joseph,  son  of  Benjamin, 
died  June  30,  1826,  aged  73;  his  widow  is  still  living,  near- 
ly 90  years  of  age. 

John  Davis  came  as    is   supposed,    from  Oxford,  before 

1750,  and  settled  where  Samuel  M.  Lemmon  now  lives. 
He  was   chosen   deacon   when    the  church  was    formed  in 

1751,  and  was  one  of  the  first  board  of  Selectmen.  He 
had  four  sons;  Nathan,  David,  Josiah  and  Abijah.  Nathan 
married  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  Rogers,  who  kept  a  tav- 
ern where  Robert  Tucker  now  lives.  He  had  sons,  Na- 
than, Elihu,  Enos  the  deacon,  Pliny,  Rodney  who  lives  in 
Belchertown,  and  Leonard,  who  lives  in  Palmer. 

Enos  married  Submit  Bush,  daughter  of  Solomon  Bush, 
in  1797,  and  had  sons,  Rev.  Emerson  Davis  of  Westfield, 
and  Solomon  B.,  now  living  here. 


HISTORICAL  ADDRESS.  49 

William  Brakenridge,  who  was  the  prominent  man  here 
for  more  than  thirty  years,  one  of  the  first  board  of  Se- 
lectmen, and  the  first  re()resentative  to  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress, and  town  clerk  for  eighteen  years,  came  to  this  coun- 
try frofn  Ireland,  in  1727,  when  four  years  of  age,  with  his 
father  James,  a  native  of  Scotland,  who  was  one  of  the 
first  settlers  of  the  Elbow  tract.  There  is,  in  the  Braken- 
ridge family  an  ancient  manuscript  music-book  upon  the  fly- 
leaf of  which  is  written,  "  JMr.  Jacobus  Breakenridge, 
His  Music  Book,  made  and  taught  per  me,  Robt.  Cairnes, 
at  Glenreavoll,  Sept.  1715."  Besides  the  scale  and  rudi- 
ments of  music,  it  contains  the  date  of  his  marriage,  1720, 
and  the  births  of  his  children,  giving  the  day,  the  hour,  and 
the  time  in  the  moon,  with  other  memoranda.  On  one  page 
is  written,  "  JVe  departed  from  Ireland,  July  \6,  1727,  and 
my  child  died  on  the  19lh  of  Jlug.''''  Another  son  was 
born  in  Nov.  following,  to  whom  the  same  name  was 
given.  His  sons  were  James,  who  settled  in  Ware,  after- 
wards removed  to  Bennington  Vt.,  and  went  as  minister  to 
England,  William,  born  Sept.  19,  1723,  who  settled  in 
Ware  in  1746,  Francis  and  George  who  remained  in  Pal- 
mer. 

William  married  Agnes  Sinclair,  who  came  with  her  pa- 
rents in  the  same  vessel  with  him  from  Ireland,  and  had  four 
sons,  William,  James,  George  and  Francis.  He  took  up 
about  1,000  acres  of  land  on  the  north  part  of  the  Elbow 
grant,  built  a  house  in  the  centre,  where  the  widow  Francis 
Brakenridge  now  lives,  and  planted  his  four  sons  around  him. 
His  education  was  imperfect,  but  his  native  good  sense,  and 
sound  judgment  gave  him  a  leading  influence  in  the  town. 

William  married  Thankful,  a  daugliter  of  Judah  Marsh; 
had  two  sons,  W  illiam  Sinclair,  who  is  dead,  and  Judah 
Marsh,  now  living,  where  his  faiher  did. 

James  married  a  daughter  of  William  Coney,  and  had 
four  sons;  James,  who  is  dead,  Allender,  now  living,  Reu- 
ben Moss,  who  is  dead,  and  William,  living  where  his  father 
did. 

George  married  Persis  Joslyn  of  New  Braintree,  and  had 
six  sons.     Benjamin  and   Franklin   now   live   in   this  town. 

Francis  married  Lydia  Pepper,  and  had  one  son,  Francis, 
who  is  dead. 

William  Brakenridge  died  Feb.  16,  1807,  aged  84.  His 
grandsons  inherit  the  lands  and  the  stable  virtues  of  their  an- 
cestor. 

7 


50  mSTORICAL  ADDRESS. 

Judah  Marsh  came  from  Hatfield  or  Hadley,  in  1730, 
and  settled  near  the  mills  built  by  him,  and  now  known  as 
Marsh's  ^lills.  Thomas,  Ephraim,  Samuel  and  Joseph, 
who  were  here  in  1742,  were  probably  his  brothers.  He 
married  a  daughter  of  Capt.  Jabez  Olmstead,  and  had  sons, 
Elij-HJ),  Joel,  Thomas,  Jonathan,    Judah  and  a  second  Joel. 

Thomas  had  four  sons,  none  of  whom  are  here.  Jona- 
than had  four  sons.  Jacob  and  Foster  are  now  living  here. 
Judah  had  five  sons.  Aaron  and  James  Sullivan  are  now 
living  here.  Joel's  son  Joel  S.  is  now  living  in  Hardwick. 
Judah  Marsh  died  May  7,  lS01,aged  89.  His  posterity 
dwell  upon  ihe  land  upon  which  he  settled  in  1730. 

Samuel  Sherman,  one  of  the  first  board  of  selectmen, 
came  from  Rochester,  and  settled  at  first  upon  the  farm 
now  owned  by  William  E.  Bassett;  he  afterwards  lived 
south  of  Benjamin  Bond's.  He  married  for  a  second  wife, 
Jerusha  Davis,  by  whom  he  inherited  the  farm  now  owned 
by  Calvin  Morse.  He  had  by  his  first  wife  two  sons, 
Thomas  and  Prince;  and  by  his  second,  Reuben,  Samuel 
and  Ebenezer.  Reuben  is  dead,  has  two  sons,  Thomas  and 
Earl,  living  here. 

Ebenezer  died  in  Ohio;  has  two  daughters  living  here, 
the   wives  of  Downing  Gould  and  Edward  Pope. 

Samuel  Sherman  died  Feb.  5,  1811,  aged  88. 

Deacon  Thomas  Jenkins  lived  where  Seth  Pierce  now 
lives.  He  was  a  deacon  indeed  it  seems;  for  the  mild  and 
serious  rebuke  he  gave  to  the  son  of  a  neighbor  who  in- 
cautiously said  "  Ivow^\  in  his  presence,  was  never  forgot- 
ten. He  was  one  of  the  delegates  to  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress with  Capt.  Brakenridge.   He  has  no  descendants  here. 

Deacon  Maverick  Sn)ith  lived  where  Dauphin  Harwood 
now  lives.      He  has  no  descendants  here. 

Joseph  Foster  lived  between  the  village  and  Joseph 
Cunmiings'.  He  had  a  family  of  eight  children,  and  was 
a  man  of  character  and  influence,  was  one  of  the  first  dele- 
gates to  the  Provincial  Congress,  in  1775.  I  cannot  learn 
whence  he  canrye,  or  whither  he  went,  as  no  descendants 
of  his  live  here. 

Samuel  Dunsmore  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  settled 
where  Rufus  Eaton  now  lives.  His  daughter  Miriam  mar- 
ried .lames  Lamberton,  and  was  the  niother  of  Samuel  D. 
Lamberton  of  Brookfield,  and  of   Rufus    Thrasher's  wife. 

James  Leu)mon  came  from  Ireland,  when  four  years  of  age, 
and  settled  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  his  grandson  Samuel 


HISTORICAL  ADDRESS.  51 

Lemmon,  in  the  Sonth-West  part  of  the  town.  His  moth- 
er was  a  sister  of  James  Brakenridge,  vAho  settled  in  Pal- 
mer. His  son  James  lived  uhere  ^liriain  Lemmon  dees. 
He  was  the  only  Irishman,  it  seems,  tliat  settled  upon  the 
manor.      They  usually  sought   the  low  meadow  lands. 

John  Downing  came  from  Springfield,  bought  of  Timo- 
thy Brown  in  1752,  and  kept  a  tavern  on  the  old  road,  west 
of  Muddy  brook,  on  land  now  owned  by  Dr.  Goodrich. 
He  had  one  son  who  was  drowned  June  10,  1771,  while 
attempting  to  rescue  Reuben  Davis,  who  was  also  drown- 
ed. One  daughter  married  Isaac  Magoon,  another  David 
Gould. 

Deacon  Daniel  Gould  came  from  Sharon  in  1773,  and 
settled  where  his  son  Aaron  now  lives.  He  was  the  first 
representative  elected  under  the  Constitution,  and  had  much 
to  do  with  town  business.  He  had  sons,  Daniel,  Lewis, 
Aaron  and  Seth;  the  last  two  are  living  here.  He  died 
July  10,  1834. 

David  and  Ehenezer  his  brothers,  came  soon  after.  Da- 
vid married  Lovisa,  daughter  of  John  Downing,  in  1780, 
and  lived  near  where  Benjamin  Eaton  now  lives.  He  has 
sons,  Sainuel,  John  and  Downing,  living  here,  and  daugh- 
ters, the  wives  of  Thomas  Sherman,  Joel  Rice  and  Wil- 
liam S.  Brakenridge.      He  died  August  22,  1817,  aged  67. 

Ebenezer  Gould,  married  Mille,  daughter  of  AV'illiam 
Coney,  in  1782,  and  had  sons,  Leonard,  who  is  dead,  and 
Ebenezer   who  lives  where  his  fathpr  did. 

Deacon  William  Paige  came  from  Hardwick  in  1777, 
and  lived  where  Samuel  Holbrook  now  lives,  formerly  oc- 
cupied by  Rev.  Ezra  Thayer.  He  had  a  son  W^illiam, 
who  died  without  issue,  and  eight  daughters.  One  married 
Dr.  Rufus  King;  one  Benjamin  Cummings;  one  Simeon 
Cummings;  and  one  Azel  Washburn.  He  died  June  23d, 
1826. 

Phille  Morse  came  from  Sharon  soon  after  the  town 
was  incorporated.  He  married  a  daughter  of  W^illiam  Co- 
ney, and  lived  upon  the  farm  now  owned  by  his  son  Cal- 
vin. Another  son,  Braddish,  died  young.  A  daughter 
married  Prince  Andrews;  one,  Calvin  Ward,  now  in  Illi- 
nois; and  the  youngest,  David  Lewis,  and  is  not  living. 

William  Coney  came  from  Sharon  during  the  Revolution, 
and  built  his  habitation  among  the  rocks,  where  his  sons 
William  and  Daniel  now  live.  It  was  then  in  Brookfield; 
being  colliers,  they  seem  to  have  sought  the  wood  rather  than 
the  land.     His  son,  Capt.  Oliver  Coney,  came  earlier,  and 


52  HISTORICAL  ADDRESS. 

owned  the  farm  where  the  widow  of  George  Brakenridge 
now  lives.     He  died  Dec.  13,  1830,  aged  81. 

John  Tisdale  came  from  Taunton  in  1775,  and  settled 
at  first  in  Greenwich,  South  Parish,  now  Enfield.  He 
came  into  Ware,  A|)ril  19,  1779,  at  which  time,  it  is  said, 
the  apple  trees  were  in  full  bloom,  an  indication  of  an  earlier 
season  than  this.  His  son  John  Jr.,  was  the  father  of  Tim- 
othy, Thomas,  Israel  and  James  W.,  now  living  here.  His 
oldest  son  was  named  John  Read,  after  the  lord  of  the 
manor. 

Jeremiah  Anderson  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  came 
here  soon  after  the  Precinct  was  established,  lived  where 
Ebenezer  Barlow  now  lives,  in  the  N.  E.  corner  of  the 
town,  and  had  a  large  family  of  eleven  children.  His  son 
William  was  born  Aug.  18,  1749,  and  lived  near  the  cen- 
tre of  the  town. 

William's  son  Amasa  was  horn  November  6,  1776,  and 
married  Thankful  Brakenridge  in  1802.  Nathaniel^  was 
born  June  15,  1783,  and  married  Salome  Snell,  in  IS  1 3, 
both  of  whom  have  children  living  here.  Samuel  D.  was 
another  son,  who  inherited  Samuel  Dunsmore's  faru)  for  his 
name. 

Thomas  Andrews  was  here  quite  early.  John,  Aaron 
and  Prince  were  his  sons,  and  have  descendants  here. 
Aaron  married  Betsey,  daughter  of  Simeon  Cummings. 
Prince  married  Clarissa  Morse. 

James  Lamberton  was  one  of  the  original  settlers  in  Pal- 
mer. He  came  from  Ireland,  and  lived  where  Charles 
Shaw  now  does.  He  had  sons,  John,  who  was  a  bachelor, 
like  his  uncle  John  before  him,  James,  Seth  and  David. 
James  married  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Dunsmore  for  his  first 
wife,  and  lived  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  Baxter  Gil- 
bert. He  afterwards  lived  where  Alfred  and  Gideon  do, 
who   are  his  sons  by  a  second  wife. 

Seth  married  Elizabeth  Eddy  of  Brookfield,  and  lived 
where  his  son  .Tosephus  does. 

Dr.  Edward  Demond  came  here  from  Reading,  and  was, 
probably,  the  first  physician  here.  The  record  of  the  births 
of  his  children  begins  in  1735,  but  some  of  them  were  prob- 
ably born  before  he  came  to  this  town.  He  lived  where 
John  Wetherell  does,  and  had  sons,  Edward  Thomas, 
Abraham  and  Stephen,  and  five  daughters.  A  daughter  mar- 
ried Elijah,  son  of  Judah  Marsh,  in  1759.  Edward  Dem- 
ond is  son  of  Thomas,  and  is  now  living  here. 


HISTORICAL  ADDRESS.  53 

Dr.  Elias  Bollon  came  from  Mendon  about  1780.  Af- 
ter hitn  was  Dr.  Walker  who  came  from  Windham,  Scot- 
land Society  Ct.  He  lived  near  the  old  Durant  place,  and 
remained  here  about  six  years. 

Dr.  Rufus  King  came  from  Brookfield  in  1789,  and  is 
still  living,  80  years  of  age. 

William  Bowdoin  Esq.  came  here  in  infancy,  about  1762. 
He  is  supposed  to  have  been  a  natural  son  of  a  broth- 
er of  Gov.  Bowdoin,  whose  name  he  bore.  He  was 
raised  in  the  family  of  Solomon  Bush,  near  Marsh's 
mills,  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools,  and 
having  a  taste  for  reading,  and  a  tact  for  business,  be  ac- 
quired a  character  and  induence  no  other  man  ever  gained 
in  this  town.  He  was  chosen  town  clerk  in  1789,  and  held 
the  office  for  twenty-two  years  in  succession.  He  was 
again  elected  in  1830,  and  held  the  office  until  bis  death, 
Sept.  23,  1831.  He  represented  the  town  eleven  years  in 
the  Legislature,  being  the  only  one  chosen  frou)  1795  to 
1812,  and  was  a  delegate  to  the  Convention  for  revising  the 
Constitution,  in  1820.  In  1801,  he  was  elected  a  Justice 
of  the  Peace,  and  did  most  of  the  business  of  that  nature, 
in  this  town,  for  nearly  thirty  years.  He  wrote  a  very  plain, 
legible  hand,  and  the  perfect  state  of  the  town  records  is 
owing,  very  much  to  his  care.  He  transcribed  the  records 
of  the  births,  deaths  and  marriages,  by  vote  of  the  town,  io 
1 789,  which  are  very  complete  of  some  of  the  earlier  families. 
He  was  twice  married,  and  had  fourteen  children.  His  son, 
Hon.  William  Bowdoin  of  South  Hadley,  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Senatefrom  this  County;  James  has  been  a 
Representative  from  New  Braintree;  John  from  this  town; 
and  Waller  H.    from  Springfield. 

To  recur  for  a  moment  to  the  occasion  tbat  has  brought 
us  together.  While  we  rejoice  in  the  erection  of  this  build- 
ing as  an  ornament  and  convenience,  let  us  do  it  with  a  prop- 
er consideration  to  the  rights  and  privileges  of  those  whose 
convenience  will  not  be  promoted  by  the  change  in  the  place 
of  holding  our  town  meetings.  Probably  two-thirds  of  the 
inhabitants  in  town,  reside  within  a  mile  of  this  hall.  We 
are  bringing  matters  back  to  their  former  slate,  as  we  have 
learned  the  first  meetings  were  held  in  the  "  Great  House  " 
in  this  part  of  the  town. 

This  town  has  always  been  marked  by  a  more  than  ordi- 
nary degree  of  barmony  and  stability  in  its  public  affairs. 


54  HISTORICAL  ADDRESS. 

In  order  to  maintain  this  character,  we  must  be  willing  to 
concede  to  all  their  rights.  Because  a  prosperous  business 
has  given  to  this  village  the  power  and  influence,  to  some 
extent,  I  trust  we  shall  never  seem  disposed  to  take  the  Li- 
on's share.  To  dwell  in  peace,  tliere  must  be  mutual  con- 
cession. Sectional  jealousies  must  be  suppressed.  The 
schools,  the  roads  and  the  poor  require  our  care,  as  a  town. 
Let  us  be  liberal  in  providing  for  them. 

The  manufacturing  establishmenis  may,  in  some  cases, 
increase  the  expenses  of  the  town,  but  they  pay  too,  a  laige 
pro[)ortion  of  the  taxes.  They  furnish  a  home  market  for 
our  surplus  produce.  They  pay  for  labor,  about  $175,000 
annually,  which  finds  its  way  to  the  merchants,  the  mechan- 
ics and  the  farmers.  We  have  known  how  things  looked 
when  the  wheels  did  not  move.  The  present  success  of 
manufacturers  here  should  not  excite  our  jealousy.  We 
have  learned  that  $700,000  have  been  planted  here  by  other 
hands,  which,  wiih  all  the  care  and  toil  of  nearly  fifteen 
years,  have  yielded  no  fruit  but  disappointment.  It  was  not 
the  fault  of  the  place,  nor  altogether  in  the  management. 
The  experiment  began  early  here.  We  have  passed  through 
deep  waters,  and  through  fire,  and  are  looking  better  now 
than  ever. 

I  believe  it  to  be  the  duty,  as  it  is  the  right  of  all,  to 
attend  town  meetings.  We  al!  have  an  interest  in  the  busi- 
ness of  the  town.  But  if  any  will  stay  away,  and  dislike 
what  is  done  by  ihose  who  go,  they  should  hold  their  peace. 

May  we  discharge  our  duiies,  mindful  that  ihey  may  be 
reviewed  by  future  generations,  as  we  have  looked  back  to- 
day, and  remecnhering  our  accountabiliiy  to  Him  "  who 
keepeth  covenant  and  mercy  with  them  that  love  Him,  and 
keep  his  commandments,  to  a  thousand  generations." 


HISTORICAL  ADDRESS. 


55 


TOWN  CLERKS  OF  WARE. 


John  Post,                chosen 

1742. 

William  Paige,       chosen  1787. 

Jacob  Cummings,          " 

1744. 

William  Bowdoin, 

1789. 

John  Davis,                   " 

1748. 

Leonard  Gould,           ' 

'       1811. 

Thnothy  Brown,           " 

1750. 

Joel  Rice, 

1825. 

Jacob  Cummings,          " 

1751. 

Leonard  Gould,           ' 

1826. 

WilHam  Brakenridge,  " 

1757. 

Joel  Rice,                    ' 

'        1828. 

Maverick  Smith,           " 

1760. 

William  Snow,           ' 

1829. 

William  Brakenridge,  " 

1762. 

William  Bowdoin,      ' 

'        1830. 

Abraham  Cummings,  " 

1777. 

Leonard  Gould,           ' 

1831. 

David  Brown,                " 

1780. 

George  W.  Porter,    ' 

'        1832. 

Thomas  Tufts,              " 

1782. 

.Jason  Gorham,            ' 

1837. 

David  Brown,               " 

1786. 

Lewis  Demond,          ' 

'        1839. 

REPRESENTATIVES  FROM  WARE. 

In  the  years  not  named,  the  town  was  not  represented. 
WILLIAM  BRAKENRIDGE,) 

JOSEPH  FOSTER,     and  >  to  Provincial  Congress  1775. 

THOMAS  JENKINS, 


Under  the  Constitution. 


Daniel  Gould, 
Isaac  Pepper, 
Isaac  Pepper, 
William  Bowdoin, 
William  Bowdoin, 
William  Bowdoin, 
William  Bovdoin, 
William  Bowdoin, 
William  Bowdoin, 
William  Bowdoin, 
Wiiham  Bowdoin, 
William  Bowdoin, 
William  Bowdoin, 
William  Bowdoin, 
Enos  Davis, 
Enos  Davis, 
William  Paige  Jr., 
Joseph  (-ummings, 
Joseph  Cummings, 
Joseph  Cummings, 
Aaron  Gould, 
Aaron  Gould, 
William  Paige  Jr., 
Alpheus  Demond, 
Aaron  Gould, 
Aaron  Gould,      ) 
Samuel   Phelps,  ^ 
Joel  Rice, 


1787. 
1788. 
1795. 
1798. 
1601. 
1802. 
1803. 
1804. 
18C6 
18C8. 
1&C9. 
1810. 
1811. 
1812. 
1813. 
1814. 
1815. 
1816. 
1817. 
1822. 
1824. 
1825. 

1826. 

1827. 

1829. 

1830. 


Aaron  Gould,  ) 
Joel  Rice,        ^ 
Allender  Brakenridge, 
Homer  Banlelt, 
Alphens  Demond,  ) 
Enos  Davis,  ^ 

("alvin  Morse,  > 

Benjamin  Wilder.  ^ 
Thomas  Wilder,  ) 
John  Osborne  Jr  ,  \ 
1  homas  Wilder,  ) 
Reuben  Lazell,  J 
Edmund  Freeman,  } 
Reuben  Lazell,  J 

Thomas  Snell,      } 
Royal  Bosworth,  J 
Thomas  Snell,    > 
Jason  (jorham,   J 
John  Bowdoin,    > 
Nelson  Palmer,   y 
Joel  Rice, 
Ebenezer  Gould, 
Horace  Goodrich, 
Jonathan  Harwood, 
Ansel  Phelps  Jr., 
Samuel  M.  Lemmon, 
Avery  Clark, 


1831. 
1832. 
1833. 
1834. 
1835. 
1836. 
1837. 
1838- 
1839. 

1840. 

1841. 

1842. 
1843. 
1844. 
1845. 
1846. 
1847. 


William  Bowdoin  Esq.,  was  delegate  to  the  Convenliou 
for  revising  the   State  Constitution,  in  1820, 


56 


HISTORICAL  ADDRESS. 


Hon.  Joseph  Cummings  was  a  member  of  the  State  Sen- 
ate from  Hampshire  County,  in   the  years  1831    and    1832. 

He  has  also  been  County  Commissioner  for  twelve  years, 
and  is  now  re-elected  for  another  term. 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE. 


1801. 

Feb.  23,  1811. 

June  14,  1817. 

Jan.  22,  1823. 

Feb.  22,  1825. 

Feb.    5,  1828. 

"     7,  " 

"     1,  1832, 

May  24,  " 

Feb.  18,  1833. 

Aug.  26,  1834. 
Jan.  29,  1835. 
Mai.  28,     " 
Oct.   2, 
May  12,  1841. 
Aug.  29,  1843. 
Oct.  3, 

Dec.  31,  1844. 
July  1,  1845. 
Apr.  15,  1846. 
May  15,     " 


William  Bowdoin, 
Dr.  Kufus  King. 
Joseph  Cummings. 
Thunias  \.  De.xter, 
Homer  Barllett, 
Alplieus  Demond. 
Aaron  Gould. 
Henry  Starkweather, 
Reuben  A .  Chapman, 


died  Sept.  23,  1831. 


removed  to  Boston  in  1826. 
"  Lowell  in   1839. 


New  York  in  1834. 
Springfield  in  1834. 


Barlow  Freeman,  r.  Jacksonville.  111.  died  Sep.  1838. 


Leonard  Gould, 
William  Hyde. 
Francis  B.  Stebbins, 
Thomas  Wilder, 
Dr.  Anson  Moody,      ' 
Ansel  Phelps  Jr., 
Lewis  Babcock. 
Samuel  Phelps, 
Josiah  French, 
Joel  Rice. 
John  Bowdoin. 
Samuel  T.  Spaulding. 
Arthur  L.  Devens. 


died  Nov.  4,  1839. 

Oswego  N.  Y.  died  May  1845. 

removed  to  Boston  in  1836. 

"      North  Haven,  Ct.,  in  1836. 

"  Springfield  in  1846. 

died  Nov.  1,  1843. 
rem.  to  Halifax  Vt.,  1845. 


The  Hall  erected  by  the  town,  at  the  opening  of  which  the  forego- 
ing address  was  delivered,  is  situated  nearly  opposite  the  Hotel,  at  the 
corner  of  Main  street  and  the  road  leading  to  Northampton  and  Spring- 
field. The  buildmg  is  sixty  feet  long  by  forty-eight  wide,  two  stories 
high.  The  first  floor  contains  a  room  for  a  Grammar  School,  with  a 
recitation  room  atiached,  and  an  office  for  the  Selectmn  and  Assess- 
ors. The  second  story  is  in  one  room,  for  the  transaction  of  town  bu- 
siness. The  basement  is  occupied  as  a  Market.  The  cost  of  the 
building  and  land,  with  the  fixtures  and  furniture  for  the  Hall  and 
School-room,  is  about  $4,500.  The  plan  was  designed  by  H.  N. 
Sykes,  Esq.  of  Springfield,  and  the  building  erected  by  Daniel  Col- 
ton,  of  Longmeadow. 

The  Building  Committee  were 


CHARLES  A.  STEVENS, 
ALLENDER  BRAKENRIDGE, 
AVERY  CLARK, 


SETH  PIERCE. 
JOEL  RICE. 


V 


Of  / 


